NAFFAC tackles Shippers’ Council  over registration policy 

The National Association of Freight Forwarders and Air Consolidators (NAFFAC) has kicked against the recent call by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) for freight forwarders to register with it.

The group said such responsibility does not fall under the purview of the Council saying it is tantamount to taking over the duty of its sister agency.

The President General of NAFFAC, Prince Adeyinka Bakare while chatting with journalists in his office stated that it is only the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) that can make such policy.

His words, “It is a dream that will never come true. Asking agents to come and pay certain amoney means that it is doing another agency’s work.

“Registration of agents should be done by CRFFN and the right of CRFFN alone. No agency, no terminal or shipping line has the right to ask agebts to cone and regster wkth them.

“The only person saddled with that responsibility id CRFFN because that is what the Acts says

“Every agency has the Act that established it and  what role each should be playing.

He however llauded the call by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Alli for reduction in duty on vehicles imported into the country.

But Bakare advised that the duty should be the newer the vehicle, the lower the duty to encourage importation of new cars into the country.

“The truth about that is a good policy if it is implemented but I think it should be the newer the vehicle, rhe lower the duty so that it will encourage Nigerians to bring in newer vehicles.

“If it is going to be reduction across board, it is still the same because it wont stop more vehicles comingrom Cotonou.

“It will be good if shipping charges and terminals charges follow suit. It should not be the Customs duty alone.

“If we want to decongest Apapa port, there must be incentives to people using the other ports like Warri, Calabar, Port Harcourt and other ports.”

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