Freight forwarders are professionals whose job is very essential to the nation as they occupy a strategic position in the economy.
They should therefore be more focused on their job and not see themselves as trade unionists who carry association matters on their heads.
Freight forwarders should as a matter of fact cut down on their involvement in association issues and focus on their job as professionals.
They are also not expected to be seen threatening to shut down the ports over issues they could sit down and talk over as professionals.
Speaking at the 24th Year Anniversary and Award Celebration of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in Lagos yesterday, the former Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello
Bello, told forwarders present that they should see themselves as professionals who should be ensuring that the ports are open and not trade unionists who clamour for closure of ports on flimsy excuses.
The former NSC boss who was the chairman of the occasion, restated that freight forwarders are very indispensable as they occupy a strategic position in the nation’s economy.
He charged them to grow up and not be too much involved in association matters.
According to Bello, the association is just a means to an end and not a means in itself and therefore enjoined them to give more time to their profession.
He further charged freight forwarders to educate themselves and not be complacent with chasing after only menial jobs but should be ready to handle billions of naira jobs
He frowned at the celebration of Grimaldi’s large vessel, “MV Great Lagos”, that berthed in Lagos recently, querying what exports will the ship take out of the country.
He enjoined freight forwarders to focus on exports and not be interested in only imports as the nation can’t grow without exportation.
In his welcome address, the National President of NAGAFF, Chief Emmanuel Tochukwu Ezisi called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and other relevant government agencies to make Nigerian ports more efficient and competitive with global standards especially under the current African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to attract more ship calls from the region.
The National President stressed that if Nigerian ports must remain competitive to attract more cargo flow in the region, NPA, NSC, NCS and others have to check the inefficiencies in the ports and Customs operation.
Ezisi highlighted some features of inefficiency manifesting in port operations as the following:
*Poor quality of services at the port which is key to operational efficiency;
*Port charges, arbitrary hike in duty and terminal charges indirectly affects port operational efficiency;
*Illegal activities of non-state actors within and around the port’s terminals;
*Proliferation of agencies contribute to cargo clearing delays; and
*Challenges faced by truck drivers in accessing terminal gate and loading.
He maintained that NAGAFF in its 24 years of existence has contributed immensely to the national economy.
According to him, the association has immensely contributed to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through adequate payment of duties, levies and Practitioners Operating Fees (POF) accrued to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Ezisi noted that NAGAFF trade facilitation and 100% Compliance units were designed to enhance growth in national economy by checking anti-trade facilitation activities at the ports.
The national president said that the association contributes greatly to capacity building of the nation’s workforce through its accredited NAGAFF Academy.
He added that the presence of its members business operations within and around the port areas and border stations in Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Katsina and Kano States has added so much value to those areas through employment generation which has reduced social vices and insecurity.
In his speech, the founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam, said that he founded the association in order to liberate freight forwarders from oppression.
He disclosed that he single handedly sponsored the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) in his bid to professionalize the job.
Aniebonam noted that many of his colleagues who opposed the bill later benefited from it.
The founder stated that though CRFFN may not be working as it should now but he was optimistic that it would achieve its original purpose in the near future.
The founder said that old age is setting in and that he has stopped wearing face caps for red caps which signifies senior citizenship in Igbo land.
He urged the young ones following him to brace up and take full charge of the association, adding that, “I am going out of the scene. Age is setting in.”
On her part, the Acting Registrar, CRFFN, Mrs. Chinyere Uromta congratulated NAGAFF at 24 and commended it for building capacity in the maritime industry through training and retraining of its members.
She urged the association not to relent in its efforts to get its members educated and more knowledgeable in the profession.
The registrar stated that the CRFFN on its part is working to get the freight forwarding practice professionalized, urging freight forwarders to continue to support the council.
PHOTO: National President, NAGAFF, Chief Emmanuel Tochukwu Ezisi, Founder, Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam and ex-Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers Council, Barr. Hassan Bello at the NAGAFF’s 24th Year Anniversary/Award Ceremony on Friday.