The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has agreed to integrate the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN) transactional portal into the Authority’s web portal.
Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director, who gave this approval while receiving members of the CRFFN governing board in her office, explained that the move was to create a synergy between the activities of the Authority and the Council.
Usman assured the NPA would always support the Council in its quest to have a smooth operation in the Ports.
She said the NPA was presently carrying out a review of the concession agreement with the terminal operators which is being bank-rolled by the World Bank for a more efficient port operation as well as to put them in shape in line with international best practice.
Earlier, Abubakar Tsanni Amadi, chairman of the CRFFN, said the NPA was seeking for a mutual relationship between both parties with a view to further have an efficient service delivery through seamless port operation.
He called for collaboration in addressing the issue of unauthorised access to the ports, especially as it concerns those with no legitimate business in the Port.
According to him, the NPA needs to issue permits to registered freight forwarders as contained in the CRFFN Act, section 19 (1) to urgently avert any security breach in view of the volatility of the port axis and most especially unwarranted human traffic.
Amadi enumerated long dwelling time of cargo, traffic gridlock, and non-provision of empty containers holding bay by shipping companies as the various challenges facing the port industry in Nigeria.
He requested for a holistic approach to the charges slammed on Nigerian importers arising from shipping companies not having holding bays.
Amadi further stated that the present CRFFN executive, which came on board in 2018, met an environment not conducive for port operations, especially with regards to the port infrastructure, hence the need for the NPA to redress the situation urgently.
AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE
