NAGAFF Set To Submit Reports On Operational Activities Of APMT

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has concluded plans to present the long awaited report about the re-evaluation and assessment of the port concessionaire, AP Moller (APM)Terminals, Apapa , Lagos.

NAGAFF management had set up a technical system audit/study committee to re-evaluate the operational performances of the APM Terminals in Nigeria and make comparative studies of the concessionaire’s activities in other ports of the world.

It is recalled that in July , 2020, NAGAFF urged APM Terminal (APMT), Apapa to tender public apology based on a statement credited to the Country Manager.

The Chairman of NAGAFF’s Technical System Audit/Study Committee on the re-evaluation of terminal operators, Dr. Arthur Igwilo, told our correspondent the team is ready to submit the report as it concerns APMT to the management after which this will be publicly debated at the end of November 2020.

Asked why the committee failed to submit the report after the three months mandate issued by management of the freight forwarding association, Dr. Igwilo atttibuted the delay to the COVID19 pandemic and the recent #ENDSARS demonstrations. He was emphatical that investigations have been concluded on the operational activities of the concessionaire.

He explained that opinion poll and fact finding on empirical figures and analysis formed the basic research methodology of his team.

Stakeholders drawn from both private and public sectors, he stated, made tremendous contributions towards achieving the assignment.

According to Igwilo, questionnaires through feedback mechanism were issued to most of the stakeholders with a view to obtain their responses on the operational activities of the concessionaire.

Three bonded terminals were earmarked to respond to the terminal operator’s activities in line with trade facilitation and world best practices.

The chairman frowned at the concessionaire’s poor response to inquiries by the committee and affirmed that a comprehensive report was near conclusion.

“We wouldn’t want to prolong this exercise. That is why we will announce the performances of the terminal operator on or before November ending. I want to assure you that it is unbiased because the facts and figures are intact for public consumption”

He however added that government agencies from the maritime industry will be on ground to ascertain the position of the committee during the public presentation about the concessionaire.