About 13 years after the ports were concessioned; stakeholders in the maritime industry have faulted the policy, saying that the objectives for which the private sector was brought in are yet to be achieved.
Recalled that in 2006, the ports were concessioned to private sector operators
But in his assessment, the President of the African Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) Frank Ogunojemite told Shipping Position Daily in Lagos on last week, that the problems that port were having before the concessioning were yet to be solved.
He reiterated that in some cases, the problems have grown in leaps, even as he added that the most annoying of them all is the issue of extortion through arbitrary charges especially on demurrages at the terminals.
"Without doubt, the issue of demurrage is nothing but a sheer exploitation and looks like second slavery being experienced by Nigerians in their country"
"The job and satisfaction of all freight forwarders is when the consignment is properly delivered in time and at reasonable cost"
He blamed the absence of port regulators as the major reasons extortion at the ports have lingered.
Ogunojemite however lauded the federal government for appointing the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as the ports economic regulator.
"We therefore urge the federal government to perfect the Nigerian Shippers Council so that they can bark and bite.
“In the meantime we call on the council to rise up and save importers and freight forwarders from economic disaster over the unjust demurrages from shipping companies and terminal operators"
He also urged the federal government to beam its search light on the aviation and maritime with a view to check the rot in the system.
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