The freight forwarders have lamented that 2021 will not be business as usual mostly as it concerns operational activities of Standard Organization (SON) and National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at the nation’s seaports.
Top members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), while setting agenda for the maritime industry, as part of expectations for the year 2021,said some government agencies frustrated port operations last year .
Speaking with DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA on Thursday in Lagos, National Coordinator, 100 % Compliance Team, NAGAFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko lamented that operations of the two agencies through samples collection from consignments at the Lagos seaports have made the nation to lose a whooping N6,000,000,000 daily, adding that the process negates trade facilitation.
Tanko who frowned at the activities of personnel from the two agencies of government , threatened that the compliance team will engage , resist and interrogate their operations from next month,in a bid to promote trade facilitation and boost government revenue drive.
He reiterated that 100% Compliance Team will ensure that samples that are subjected to laboratory test  by the agencies must be returned to the shippers , accusing personnel of SON and NAFDAC for illicit practices .
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On customs operations, he affirmed that issues of multiple alerts and Customs Intelligence Units interception of consignments at the seaports in Lagos will be tackled , noting that letters have written to the Area Controllers of Apapa and Tin Can Island Port respectively.
Tanko who doubles as the Deputy National President, seaports stressed that freight forwarding sub sector will experience a huge turnaround of vessel but urged the agencies of government to collaborate with the practitioners.
Also speaking, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pat Fuse Consult Limited, Dr. Fred Ajuzie accused NAFDAC on several attempts to frustrate trade facilitation .
He urged the customs to expedite actions and deploy the much talked about scanners to the seaports .
Ajuzie , a former Chairman, Apapa Chapter of NAGAFF ,opined that customs and the service providers should work in harmony for faster clearance of goods
He also queried the service on the type of scanners that would be deployed to seaports , seeking to know the terminals that will benefit from the equipment.
He expressed worries over the statement credited to the customs on scanner procurement .
He also called on the customs to improve on the single window platform to harmonise trade and smooth clearance of cargoes from the seaports.
By Roland Ekama
