NAGAFF Urges Transport Minister To Declare 21-Days Force Majure At Port
By WUNMI ADEYANJU
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders
(NAGAFF) has called on the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi to declare a 21-days Force Majure at Nigerian ports in which demurrages on imported should be waived by terminal operators and shipping companies.
The association at its management meeting in Apapa on Wednesday, 25th March, 2020 urged the Government to make a categorical statement to allay the fears of Freight Forwarders and assure them that they would not bear the brunt of the likely effect of delay in cargo clearance which is bound to occur in this time of National
emergency.
The Association believes that even in times of emergency like this, the
interest of freight forwarders should always be strictly observed and
upheld.
“As such, we call on the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the
Government to ensure that Shipping Lines Terminal Operators do not
exploit freight forwarders through arbitrary charges, tariff and
demurrage”
NAGAFF used the occasion to call on Shipping Companies and Terminal
Operators and other government agencies involved in port activities to
upgrade their systems such that interactions with them could be done
online so as to reduce human contacts in their operations.
NAGAFF also advised freight forwarders to take necessarily safety precautions while carrying out their duties at the port.
In a statement sent to DAILY TREND NEWS by its Secretary General, Mr Dipo Olayoku, the association ” reminded Freight
Forwarders of their strategic position in the International Trade and
revenue generation for the Government which forbid them from shutting
down completely, but at the same time, their health safety should be
paramount if they must continue to function effectively and efficiently
even after the scourge must have gone”
“For this reason, the NAGAFF
management is urging freight forwarders to, apart from observing all the
safety measures mentioned above, also endeavour to remain indoors,
transact their freight forwarding businesses online, (where possible)
but come out only when it becomes absolutely necessary to transact their
businesses at the Ports”
“Other freight forwarders who don’t have any serious thing to do outside should remain indoors to help in the efforts
by the government to check the spread of the disease in our dear
country”
