The founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr. Boniface Aniebonam has called on the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and heads of maritime agencies to arrest the heads of the various shipping companies and terminal operators found in breach of the lawful directives of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The NAGAFF founder who said this in a statement on Friday, said that Nigeria is not a Banana Republic where rule of law does not exist.
He explained that all heads of agencies who failed to obey government regulations should be treated as criminal matter instead of civil matters.
"In other words, the MD of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the ES of the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) as head of government may now contact the Inspector General of Police (IGP) with a view of arresting anybody or leadership of any private business company operating in our ports who failed to comply immediately with the lawful port orders and regulations. All defaulters should be visited with criminal content other than civil matters"
Aniebonam decried the high level of disobedience among the multinationals operating at the ports.
"It is unheard of that lawful orders, the federal government are allegedly in breach with impunity by most of the shipping companies and terminal operators on matters of demurrage waiver under the emergency situation of our ports operations"
Aniebonam however warned that the President of NAGAFF shall be held accountable if any member of the association is found to be part of any disorder in the customs ports at this moment of COVID 19 pandemic.
"It is sad and regrettable that most of the service providers in our ports administration and management have become an Island on to themselves in a sovereign state of Nigeria our dream country"
Aniebonam re-emphasized on the need for freight forwarders to be conversant with all the instructions from the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
"The use of on duty card issued by CRFFN can not be overemphasized for proper identification before the security agencies of the government. We again advise that you sit at home if you do not have anything to do at the ports for safety" he concluded.
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