Chairman, NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko.

The 100% Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders NAGAFF is concluding plans to hold a two-day workshop where stakeholders across the various segments of the maritime industry are expected to discuss the operational challenges bedevilling the seaports.

Slated for June 22 and 23, 2022 at 9am each day at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, the theme of the workshop is: “Sustainable Synergy with the Nigeria Customs Service, Shipping Companies, Terminal Operators, Freight Forwarders and other Stakeholders”.

Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, Wednesday to sensitise stakeholders on the upcoming workshop, National Chairman of the Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, said the aim of workshop is to bring the various stakeholders and regulators together under one roof to discuss the various challenges bedevilling the seaports.

Tanko, who addressed the media alongside the coordinator of the western zone of the team, Dr. Fred Ajuzie and its Secretary, Barth Okeke among other EXCO members, said this has become expedient and necessary in order for the various service providers including the shipping lines, terminal operators and barge operators as well as regulators such as the Nigerian Ports Authority, Customs, the Nigerian Shippers and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, among others to synergise.

“We need to come together to discuss and find lasting solutions to the various challenges plaguing the industry instead of fighting. So the workshop is to discuss the major problems and proffer solutions to the myriads of challenges facing the industry. The various service providers and regulators have been invited and they will tell us what is being done to resolve these challenges and the users of these port services will also make their inputs in order to have efficient port operations.

“There is need for clarification on some issues. For instance, we hear that NPA is not happy with the barge operators but terminal operators are urging the NPA to allow them operate because they help in easy evacuation of containers. There are also issues on the establishment of holding bays by shipping lines, among others. So we need to sit and discuss and resolve all these issues.

“The Chairman or Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding Practice in Nigeria CRFFN would also use the opportunity provided by the workshop to tell stakeholders, especially the freight forwarders what they stand to benefit from the payment of the Practitioners Operating Fee POF, which is paid per container and tonnage of imported cargo etc.

“Ordinarily, we should not have been the ones to organise such a workshop because we believe it should have come from the regulators or the government agencies but we have the interest of the industry at heart and we believe it is not always good to fight and shutdown the ports but rather to sit together to discuss and resolve all issues of common interest. We also pledge to hold such workshop annually”, Tanko said.

Investigations however show that other issues to be discussed include the controversial new valuation system by Customs, proposed engagement of a second operator under the Truck Electronic Call-up System codenamed ‘eto’, issues of demurrage and late refund of container deposits, container transfer to the Inland Dry Ports IDPs through the rails would also be exhaustively discussed at the workshop.

Business & Transport checks also indicate that the President of the Shipping Association of Nigeria SAN, umbrella body for shipping agents operating in the country would lead discussions on the issue of demurrage payment while the president of the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria STOAN would x-ray the issues around barge operations. Similarly, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa command would speak on the issue of Transire while his Tin Can Island command counterpart would speak on the VIN.

Also to be in attendance are representatives of Association of Maritime Truck Owners AMATO, National Association of Road Transport Owners NARTO as well as those of COMTUA, among several others.