By Roland Ekama, Lagos
Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam has described the inclusion of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in port operations as a mere political motivations, calling on the Federal Government to reinstate the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in cargo examination.
The NAGAFF Chief who made the plea on Wednesday in Lagos during a parley between SON and Maritime Journalists’ Association of Nigerian (MAJAN), noted that challenges faced by port operators should be the responsibility of the government in protecting lives and properties.
Aniebonam reiterated that SON responsibility in all ramifications represents life, adding that NAFDAC existence at the seaport has no significant role to play in boosting trade facilitation.
He stressed the need for the federal government to review SON’s exit from port operations and NAFDAC existence at the seaports.
According to him, SON plays critical role in the examination of cargoes at the ports, stressing the need for its return in furtherance to seamless import and export operations.
He also called on the agency to embark on aggressive sensitisation and campaign strategy in a bid to tackle issues of standards.
Recall that the federal government streamlined the number of agencies that operate at the nation’s seaports, culminating in the sack of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON.
But earlier in the year, the government reinstated NAFDAC into port operations.
He added that standards must not be compromised in the country, pointing out that all hand must be on deck for SON to live up to it’s responsibility.
Aniebonam however said ”SON is there shouting about standards but who is listening?
“Everything about life has to do with standards. So why is SON not in the ports and why is NAFDAC in the port?
“For me, it is a political motivation for NAFDAC. Every cargo coming into the port should be examined by SON. We are not satisfied with that decision,” he stated.
