NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team Sold The Idea Of Electronic Call Up System To NPA, LASG – Tanko
The Office of the National Coordinator,100% Compliance Team, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has claimed that the controversial electronic – call up system currently managed and administered by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was a brain child conceptualised by the group.
Coordinator , NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko in a chat with newsmen on Friday, said NPA e – call up system was designed to ameliorate the suffering of port users ,even as he harped on the designated holding bays to be fully equipped with modern day technology to strengthen the traffic situation along the port corridors.
He said “Look at the e-call up system today, I can tell you that is my idea, its our idea. We did the demonstration right here in Apapa but because we don’t have the manpower and capacity that was why we sold it to NPA for them to execute that idea.
Tanko maintained that ” We went to NPA , demonstrated the electronic call up system for them and the rest was history. In fact we visited the Lagos State governor three times on the e-call up system.
“We demonstrated the platform to these two institutions before handing it to them eventually to implement.
“Supposing we have the capacity and manpower to execute that project we would have handled it our own way but it is quite unfortunate that some people are bent on how to frustrate the laudable idea by us.
“Some people do not want the call up to work because they are benefitting from it.
Speaking on how best the electronic call up system can succeed, Tanko suggested that all trucks in maritime operations must register with the Ministry of Transportation in Lagos State with some other conditions attached to it.
He stressed that minimum education qualification, medical test and android phone must also be part of the requirements for eligible truckers to operate in maritime transport .
On the shelved protest ,he said the terminal operators in Nigeria treat freight agents and shippers as slaves in their country adding that time has come to put a stop to all the anomalies and barriers affecting trade facilitation.
Tanko threatened to sue bonded terminal operators without proper cargo handling equipment and requisite infrastructure , saying, the team has finalised plans to engage seasoned maritime lawyers on behalf of freight forwarders to drag erring operators to court over disruption of trade facilitation.
According to him, fragile goods were often damaged in some of the bonded terminals due to poor handling equipment which in turn creates misunderstanding between importers and freight agents.
Tanko maintained that the protest suspension at the foremost container terminals at APM.T Apapa may likely continue on Tuesday next week if the dialogue between management of terminal, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and members of the freight forwarder community yield negative results.
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The Coordinator alleged that a large number of bonded terminals do not have the equipment to run such facilities adding that team is currently compiling lists of defaulting off dock terminals.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that dialogue between the concessionaire and freight agents ended on a positive note.
Message sent to our correspondent on the Outcome of dialogue with APMT reads:
- Increased number of containers for positioning from 100 to 180 per day including weekends.
- Stopping of extra charges for missed positioning due to their own negligence
- Refund of excess charges with proof of payment.
- A written undertaking of the above will be made on Tuesday.
Also speaking on the sideline of the protest, Secretary of the NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team, Clement Iwegbuna,said the port concessionaire has made agents to pay more demurrage on consignments.
Iwegbuna, said agents pay for services unrendered for by the concessionaire adding that most jobs are at stake due to irregularities of the terminal operators.
He said freight forwarding has to do with integrity and trust but added that the terminal operator has failed to do the needful in facilitate trade.
On his part, Chief of Staff, 100% Compliance Team of NAGAFF , Bert Okeke affirmed that some of the bonded terminals are clog in the wheel fo progress.
Okeke said that the team will engage the bonded terminal operators by next week to as part of efforts for them to step up in facilitating trade.
Similarly, Technical Operator of NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team , Mr Ralph Nwoye called on the federal government to checkmate activities of the concessionaire in cargo discharge adding that the modus operandi of the terminal operator was quite dissatisfactory.
By Roland Ekama
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