National Coordinator, 100% Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Ibrahim Tanko, has warned that Freight Forwarders would withdraw their services if the Terminal Operators continue to obstruct efforts by the Government to reduce congestion at the ports.
Dr. Tanko, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, accused the Terminal operators of applying all kinds of strategies to frustrate moves by the Overtime and Auction Committee to decongest the ports. He lamented that most cargo boxes are trapped in the ports because of demurrage.
He noted that the continuous congestion of the ports is due to the uncooperative attitude of Terminal Operators, especially TCIT, PORTS & CARGO, who have refused to grant the Committee access to the containers.
According to him, this Committee does not only comprise of Customs Service but includes other government agencies in the ports.
“We have an issue with the Terminal Operators. The Government is trying to decongest the ports by setting up a Committee on Overtime and Auction”.
Tanko said, “Our members came to us, they cried, we tried to write to the terminal operators, they turned us down. Even when we write for a waiver, they turn it down. We have a series of letters we have written to them.
“What is their own? Are they above the government? Who gave them their licenses to operate? The Government said this is what we want. I was told if they auctioned the container, they(terminal operators) would refuse the beneficiary to take the container even after paying 25% duty, the cost of auction fee to the terminal and shipping companies”.
Dr. Tanko, who is also a Board of Trustees member of NAGAFF, lamented that over 10,000 containers are trapped at both TICT and Ports & Cargo terminals alone, adding, “They have obstinately refused to cooperate with the Committee because they want to collect the demurrage by all means”. The 100% Compliance Team Coordinator said that the Team had decided at a meeting that Freight Forwarders would withdraw their services at the ports if the Terminal Operators continued to obstruct the efforts of the Decongestion Committee.
“We are on the part of Government. If they refuse to cooperate with the committee, we are going to withdraw our services. By then, the Government will come in; everybody will come in. We cannot take it again.
“Finally, we have taken a decision; we are giving them two weeks from today, 11/10/24, to reconsider their stance or contend with freight forwarders”, he warned.
