Gideon Nwagbaraocha (ANLCA member)
Gideon Nwagbaraocha (ANLCA member)
If such order will come, let it pass through the CRFFN who regulates freight forwarding in Nigeria, for a new port order to be effective it has to pass through a due process, the CRFFN is the only body that is gazetted to regulate the freight forwarders. Such a new port order should be a thing that will be considered between the CRFFN and the Nigeria Shippers’ Council for its effectiveness. If properly structured in a manner that the freight forwarders will benefit, then it will be beneficial to the port system. I believe that modalities should be put in place to check corruption, it is not by killing or jailing people as far as I am concerned, in those days when customs collect cash as duty we always hear of fraud, but today, with the introduction of e-payment, such corruption has ended, all they need to do is log into the system.
Chike Mbuba (NAGAFF Chieftain)
First of all, we have to know the duties of the shippers’ council, they are to regulate activities in the port, if they are active in their duty, then a new port order will be achieved, they have the power to regulate, so if they see anything hindering the smooth flow of cargo in the port, they are the one that will stop, they are the one that will give an order, but if they fail to carry out their function they cannot blame anybody, the constitution that empowered them is there and their functions is spelt out in their Act. Corruption in the port system can only be reduced to the barest minimum, as far as there is poverty in the country, corruption may persist.
Obicee Okonkwo (National Publicity Secretary, ANLCA)
I am sure we will benefit from a new port order, Nigeria is not an exception, all over the world things are being done properly according to the order of the day, since Nigeria is lagging behind, then we need a new port order to check mate security issues and to facilitate trade; hammering on revenue generation is not the most important thing for the new port order. The new port order should be hammering on security issues and facilitation of trade, corruption cannot be eliminated from our port system, it can only be controlled because corruption is all over the world, I was in Newark port and I also noticed that there is this human interface but very limited. If we need to get to that same port order, we need to do e-transaction, because it is one of the things that can facilitate the new port order, it will remove human interface, and if human interface is removed then we can achieve what we want.
George Okafor (Vice Chair, NAGAFF PTML)
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding (CRFFN) is coming up, and when they come up they will regulate the industry smoothly and thereby achieve some of the new port order we are clamoring for, within a short time I believe things will begin to move smoothly, we will do our jobs as freight forwarders and customs will collect their revenue. In the ports, I believe what brings corruption is bad policies, but I believe we are winning the war in the maritime sector, because before now everything used to be done on paper, but with the new customs policy we are doing paperless transactions.
Festus Ejiofor (President, NCMDLCA)
The new port order is a brain child of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council because of its new status as ombudsman in port operation. What is of essence at this moment has to do with pricing and cost of doing business at the port. The new port order is feasible as far as there is no duplication of functions among the government agencies at the port and above all, freight forwarders and other port users have to comply with the rules of engagement, because there is need for orderliness in all that we do. I still maintain that the Nigeria Shippers’ Council as the economic regulator has the power to take charge, monitor and control activities of all the port users and operators. What life is all about has to do with changes and that is why a new commercial regulator like the shippers council has come to change the port industry.
Barrister Osuala Nwagbara (Maritime Lawyer)
It is very possible for stakeholders to adhere to the new port order as advocated. All we need firstly is the willpower of government to drive the factors involved in the new port order. It also requires the good intention of those who do business at the ports and the users to play by the rules guiding the new port order. The users, government and service providers at the ports are the stakeholders and there is the need for transparency, rule of law among everybody that is involved in the order. Compliance to rule and regulation must be upheld and again, the government must apply the rules, enforce those rules. I will expect the implementers of the policy in the port industry to apply the rules without fair or favour.
Dr. Kayode Farinto (ANLCA)
The new port order is long overdue because I am one of those that are clamouring for positive result in port operations. Before now we have series of problems in the industry which include inconsistency in government policy in the sector, the port environment is not friendly and the usual high tariff, but again we should thank God that the Nigeria Shippers Council is there to fight a just course and gradually we are waking up from our slumber. The Shippers council will provide the way forward because lack of that order made the ports what they are today. Port order is needed because it’s a way of sanitising the industry.
Dr. Babatunde Samuel (POTEMAN)
The new port order will definitely bring about transformation to both the users and service providers in port operation, because it will bring about standardisation of freight charges which the shippers are clamouring for a reduction. There is no standard in the area of charges, but by the advent of the shippers’ council, there is reason for standard as par freight charges and that will bring about uniformity in pricing. Above all, the overall effect of the new port order is the consumer of goods, but the problem of this order is that the shipping lines and terminal operators are powerful and my fear is whether they are going to comply with the new port order
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