NARTO Tasks Truck Owners To Take Advantage Of Duty Suspension On Imported Food

By Roland Ekama 

The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO)has tasked truck owners and other haulage operators to take advantage of the recently pronounced government decision to lift ban on some imported food and other commodities within the next five months.

The foremost transport association charged members to ensure effective conveyance of such commodities from the seaports to various part of the country in its efforts to support government addressing food shortages .

General Manager in charge of Operations , NARTO, Mr .Stephen Okafor who disclosed this during the inauguration of newly elected executives of Metropolitan Section of the Association noted that the opportunity would encourage truckers operating from the maritime industry to boost investments ,saying that the projects is an avenue for truckers to revamp their businesses .

He said the suspended payment of tariffs on imported grains and its semi-finished foods into Nigeria for five months is an opportunity for truckers to stay afloat adding that shippers would leverage on the window to import huge tonnes of the above mentioned commodities to ameliorate food shortages within the period.

Okafor maintained that “We are all aware of the federal government pronouncement on import duty free on some commodities with a grace period of five months.

“We are praying that the pronouncement is sustained and if sustained then it is kudo to all of us because I know we will all smile .

“But we cannot smile if we are not together and that has given rise to the occasion of today ,the General Manager stated.

According to him, the newly elected executives of Metropolitan Session , NARTO has the caliber and manpower to benefit from government directives on imports , even as he stressed the need for them to embrace team spirit as a veritable to benefit from the 150 days grace period.

He urged the new executives to embrace team work, transparency, commitment and resilience towards achieving success from the directive .

The General Manager expressed optimism that the newly elected executives of Metropolitan Session of the association under Abdullahi Inuwa has competent personalities to write the name of NARTO in gold but advised them to place higher premium on goals and objectives of the foremost transport group.

Recall that the Federal Government had announced suspension of import tariffs on foods such as rice, maize, wheat and their semi-finished products imported through sea and land.

The foods are major staple foods for Nigerians after the locally produced garri.