Container Deposits : Arrest, Prosecute Erring Shipping Companies - Aniebonam

A foremost freight forwarder and founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Boniface Aniebonam, has called on the Nigerian Shippers Council to prosecute any shipping company that contarvenes its directive on the collection of controversial container deposit.
It would be recalled, that, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Barrister Hassan Bello, recently called on shipping companies in the country to abrogate the collection of container deposit, which he said over the years, constituted a point of friction between shippers and shipping companies.
Aniebonam, while speaking to Journalists Thursday in Apapa, urged the Council to enforce the directive by prosecuting any erring shipping line.

” The Shippers Council should partner with the Nigerian Police to ensure arrest and prosecution of Shipping Companies and Terminal Operators violating the Council’s effort at implementing the ease of doing business at the ports”,he declared.

Aniebonam believed that lack of Nigerian flagged vessels was the main reason why foreign shipping lines usually hold the country to random and extort Nigerian Shippers.

Meanwhile the NAGAFF boss also advised government to ensure the return of standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), back to ports instead of the National Agency for food and drugs Administrative Control(NAFDAC) that were recently returned.
He claimed that, the return of SON would help in identifying fake and substandard products in the markets which are injurious to the public.

Aniebonam noted that, SON should be actively involved in the import inspection of goods and quality assessment at the ports.

He said the importance of this exercise is enormous, considering the economic and health, safety implications of the public.

” On whether or not SON should return to the port?, I would say the presence of SON in the port is more needed than the presence of NAFDAC that are presently dominant at the port.

“so, we are calling on the Federal government to ensure that SON returns back to port. As we are aware of the injurious harm substandard goods cause to the economy and safety of the people.”

“Our stand is that SON should be dominant in the port while other agencies like NAFDAC should be called upon whenever their service is needed” he said.

Recall, that, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had asked the officials of SON to vacate the seaports or risk being arrested.

The directive NPA said, was in line with a new order issued to the agency by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).