Barely two days to the general elections, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has re-echoed the need for maritime stakeholders to vote Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) as president of the country.
Founder of NAGAFF, Chief Boniface Aniebonam who made the plea on Thursday at a press briefing held in Lagos, added that the under utilised ports will be revamped for optimal utilisation according to the assurances given by the NNPP presidential candidate.
Aniebonam stated that the eastern seaports, namely; Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Koko ports will be revived under Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso administration in less than 100 days of his emergence.
Aniebonam who is the spiritual father of the political party advised shippers, manufacturers, customs brokers, freight forwarders and officials from various government agencies in the maritime sector to support and vote in the Kano born politician, saying Kwankwaso emergence as president of Nigeria would turn the fortunes and gains of the port Industry.
The NAGAFF founder affirmed: “As the founder of the NNPP , I hereby advise every stakeholders in the maritime business , transportation logistics,Importers and Exporters freight forwarding practitioners and agents of the government to understand that NNPP is our own and if we want to unbundle ourselves from the slavery in our industry, it is an opportunity for us to elect our own to enable us resolve our constraints in our concerns.
“I therefore urge all of you to go out in mass and vote Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as the president of Nigeria”, Aniebonam stated.
When elected into office in less than a year, the NAGAFF founder reiterated that the NNPP presidential candidate would established customs service commission noting that will be granted partial autonomy.
Aniebonam noted that the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) would be removed from the Ministry of Transportation and may likely move to Ministry of Trade and Investment.
According to him, Kwankwaso will not hesitate to reopen the international frontiers for cross border trade and transportation pointing out that “Removal of CRFFN from the clutches of the transportation ministry to be partial autonomous in line with the Act”.
“Move CRFFN from the supervisory role of Transport Ministry to Ministry of Trade and Industry to enhance revenue collection and professionalism, adding that freight forwarding service under CRFFN regulation and control to go strictly on professionalism.
He further noted that Kwankwaso emergence would expunge the licensing regulations and control of freight forwarding practitioners from customs law pending the National Assembly in order to ensure that its in line with best practices and standards .
The NAGAFF founder affirmed: “As the founder of the NNPP , I hereby advise every stakeholders in the maritime business , transportation logistics,Importers and Exporters freight forwarding practitioners and agents of the government to understand that NNPP is our own and if we want to unbundle ourselves from the slavery in our industry, it is an opportunity for us to elect our own to enable us resolve our constraints in our concerns.
“I therefore urge all of you to go out in mass and vote Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as the president of Nigeria”, Aniebonam stated.
By Roland Ekama
