Executive Order: Stakeholders warn FG against return of SON, others to Seaports

Abiodun Oba |

Critical stakeholders in the supply and logistics chain in the Nigerian maritime sector have cautioned the federal government against returning sacked federal government agencies especially the Standard Organisations of Nigeria (SON) back to the seaports.

The federal government through the executive order sacked the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control; Standard Organisations of Nigeria (SON); National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); National Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS); NASRA from the port. But after so much lobbying, the federal government returned NAFDAC and NDLEA back to port.

Sources have hinted that since the return of NAFDAC and NDLEA to the port, SON has also commenced serious lobbying to return to port.

But, the President of Shippers Association Lagos State (SALS) faulted the planned return of SON to the nation’s seaports.

Speaking to journalists, the President of the association, Rev. Jonathan Nicol warned against return of SON and other government agencies to the port if the government is serious about reducing cost and time of doing business at the port.

“We don’t need some of these agencies in the ports. If it is just to bring in goods and pay duty and to pay Customs duty and take goods out of the port, then why are SON and other agencies needed in the Port?

“I don’t see why they should remain at the ports, they should go and leave the job to Nigerian Customs and if we have to restructure customs, we should. Also, Nigeria police has no business with goods because they are not trained to tax goods.”

Nicol warned against forcing the return of the agencies to port. He argued that ports of Germany and Hamburg hardly interfaced with human.

The Shippers’ Association boss said rather than human coming inside the port, they have contact with their cargoes after it has been cleared at the port.

“We are looking at the interest of the importers because if you call everyone to come, you should also call the marriage registries to come.

“I travelled to Germany and Hamburg ports; one hardly sees human beings in the ports. The same is happening in Columbus and Sri Lanka, Customs is not at the ports. You can only have contacts with the trucks when goods are coming out, that’s how it should be.”

“What is so special about shippers bringing cargoes that everyone wants to take slice of the cake? It is not good for everyone.”

In his own reaction, maritime consultant, Galtima Lima accused agencies of plotting return to the port for doing so for pecuniary gains.

Lima asked why all government agencies want to return to the ports when their businesses can be done online.

He said, “There is pre-shipment that is done abroad. The port vicinity shouldn’t be for touts. You can do port operations online now because the world has gone digital and those asking agencies to be present at the port have their ulterior or pecuniary reasons for doing that and government should be weary of organisations insisting on being at the port.”

The Founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Boniface Aniebonam has become passionate in his consistent calls for the return of SON to the port.