Minister of Transportation; Mr Rotimi Amaechi has urged freight forwarding associations in the maritime sector to see themselves as partners in progress with the federal government and blow the whistle on unscrupulous importers of prohibited cargoes, especially arms and ammunitions.
Shipping Position Daily had reported exclusively that the minister was planning for a meeting with the leadership of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, AREFFN and NAFFAC, in Abuja over allegations of corruption and extortion by government agencies at the port.
A source at the meeting which held last week briefed our correspondent that the meeting was held between the freight forwarders and three government ministries namely; the Transport Ministry, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Trade and Investments.
The source who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to speak, told Shipping Position Daily that Amaechi tasked the freight forwarders on intelligence sharing, commitment to the new port order to ensure that it is achieved.
According to him, the minister urged the freight forwarders not to hesitate to inform the Government whenever harmful cargoes are imported into the country.
He said that the Minister urged the stakeholders not to see themselves as solely for protection of importers but that they must also protect national interest.
He stressed that the practicing licenses issued to the operators by the Nigeria Customs Service is an indication that they must be partners in progress with the Federal government.
"The ministers were kind of telling us that the reason government trusts us enough to license us to work with their arm of government which is the Nigeria Customs is to ensure that we protect national interest"
"They reminded us that we should not think that haven licensed us is like pushing us to the importer, the government has attracted you to work with them, therefore see yourself as working for the government and not for the importer, but at the same time, taking the implication for the importer because that is the implication of your license"
"So, in this case, when you see things that are unbecoming, it is only proper that you let the government know that certain things were seen and it is not proper, hence stricter measures should be used in dealing with such.
However on the last 21 days ultimatum issued by the ANLCA – NAGAFF Initiative (ANI) the source said that the leadership of the associations have not backed down on their demands.
He said that members have not received any information from their leaders that the ultimatum has been called off or suspended; rather, the associations are still observing the events.
He noted that other resolutions of the meeting were being kept under wraps in order not to scare away importers. The meeting had representations from the three ministries who spoke for their principals.
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