NAGAFF hijacks role of port regulator –sets up committee to evaluate performance of terminal operators.

In what was a flagrant usurpation of the duties of the Nigerian Shippers Council as the economic regulator of the maritime industry, the National

The freight forwarding group which gave 60 days for the committee to come up with its findings, promised to send same to the Ministry of Transportation for appropriate actions.

Briefing newsmen at the headquarters of the association in Lagos,  the National President, Chief Increase Uche said the essence of the committee was to evaluate the performance of the terminal operators.

He said that the evaluation exercise would commence with AP Moller Terminal after which it will proceed to other terminals.

He lamented that APMT being the biggest terminal, and having been delivering service since 2006, in accordance to the Memorandum of Understanding has not lived up to its billing.

His words, “As the link that brings all the players together in the general supply chain, the freight forwarders have been dutifully carrying out their role as required particularly, in ensuring a seamless flow of ports operations, covering all the terminals including the APMT.

“Our experience in the course of discharging our professional duties vary from one terminal to another.

“From our informed knowledge, the APMT has remained one of the terminals that has not achieved the purpose for which the government carried out the reform in the maritime industry.

“It is based on this fact and for numerous other reasons that this assignment is hereby bestowed on these selected members with the onerous task.

Uche called on the committee to do a thorough research to avoid any breach or favouritism.

The founder of the association, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam tasked the committee to be diligent in their fact-finding mission.

He admonished them to ascertain how policies have been impacted on economic growth and development.