NAGAFF Compliance Team Raises Concerns Over Jittery Feelings Of Terminal Operators

THE 100% Presidential Compliance Team, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has raised for concerns over jittery feelings of bonded terminal operators in Lagos, saying it’s operations was not targetted to witch hunt anyone in the maritime sub sector but boost trade facilitation.

National Coordinator of the compliance team , Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko who disclosed this on Tuesday, during facility tour of commands and bonded terminals in Amuwo Odofin Area of Lagos State, averred that the exercise embarked upon by his team was aimed to assist off dock terminal operators improve on their services and operations.

Recall that the team flagged off its operations last week, where the Coordinator advised operators of Mid Maritime Services Limited, Tin Can Island Port to upgrade some of the facilities, mostly as it affects flooding .

But speaking with journalists on the sideline of the tour, Tanko maintained that the compliance team has a mandate to addressing issues affecting trade facilitation and resolve some of challenges faced by the practitioners.

He reiterated that “The bonded terminal operators are beginning to see us as a threat and that is not what we want to achieve.

“However , some of these bonded terminal operators don’t have what it takes to own such facilities because you can see yourself that they lack some of the required equipment to run the terminal.

He maintained further that :”We have seen things for ourselves and we will write it they way we saw them and give out our information to the Nigerian Shippers Council and Nigerian Ports Authority.

According to him, NPA and Nigerian Shippers Council had asked the team to report issues confronting freight forwarders as against terminal operations pointing out that compliance in port operations must achieved.

While giving an update on the last week visit to Mid Maritime services Limited, Tanko disclosed that the terminal operator had assured the team that it would upgrade it’s facilities in the next six months.

At one of the off dock facilities owned by SIFAX Group, Deputy Comptroller in charge of terminal, Mrs Num F.N called on the NAGAFF team to up the ante in championing transparency in the exercise.

Tanko who led the team was accompanied by the Coordinator, Western Zone of the association, Dr. Fred Ajuzie.

The team visited SIFAX off dock terminals and Classic Marine Bonded terminal, Amuwo Odofin in Lagos.

By Roland Ekama