Elizabeth Uwandu
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, has been integrated into the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA transaction Portal for easier access to operational information.
This was disclosed during a courtesy visit by CRFFN Governing Board members led by Abubarkar Tsanni Amadi to NPA Corporate Headquarters, Marina, Lagos.
Receiving the delegates, NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman explained that the move was to create a synergy between the activities of the Authority and the Council.
Usman while assuring the team that NPA was willing to create an enabling environment that supported smooth operations at the Ports, stated also, that Management was presently carrying out a review of the concession agreement with the Terminal Operators which is being bankrolled by the World Bank for a more efficient Port operation as well as to put them in shape in line with International best practice.
his welcome address, the Chairman of the CRFFN, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni Amadi informed the Management that the body was in the NPA to seek for a mutual relationship between both parties with a view to further having an efficient service delivery through a seamless Port operation across board.
He called for improved collaboration with Management in addressing the issue of unauthorised access to the Ports especially as it concerns those with no legitimate business in the Port.
According to him, “permit needs to be issued to Registered Freight Forwarders as contained in the CRFFN Act, section 19 [1] to urgently avert any security breach in view of the volatility of the port axis and most especially unwarranted human traffic”, he said.
Amadi who stated the various challenges facing the Port Industry such as delays caused by the long Dwelling Time of Cargo, traffic gridlock, and non-provision of empty containers Holding Bay by Shipping Companies requested Management to take a holistic approach to the charges slammed on Nigerian importers arising from Shipping Companies not having Holding Bays.
He stated that the body has set up Committees with relevant sections of the CRFFN Act which if harnessed with the Management’s Security Division would bring sanity to the Ports operation and most meaningfully enhance revenue generation to the nation at large.
He further stated that the present CRFFN Executive which came onboard in 2018 met an environment not conducive for Port operations especially as it concerns the Port infrastructure leading to the Ports and its environs hence the need for the courtesy visit to impress on the Management to redress the situation urgently.
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