Few months after inaugurating its Apapa Chapter, the International Freight Forwarders Association (IFFA) has again inaugurated another chapter at Ijora area of Apapa, Lagos State, even as it has vowed to deploy the weight and strength of its members in ensuring that activities boom again at the Lillypond Container Terminal Limited at Ijora.
The association also charged sister associations including the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) to eschew violence and avoidable confrontations with the Federal Government by threatening to shut down the ports, rather embrace peace and constructive argument.
IFFA President; Dr. Sam Onyemelikwe who commissioned the Ijora Chapter noted that his group comprises of professionals who are committed to the advancement of their business interests, as well as to stimulate growth and development in the freight forwarding sector while also supporting government’s efforts in growing the economy through the seaports.
In the face of prevailing economic instability, the group promised to collaborate with other port stakeholders to make maritime and freight the number one revenue earner for the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He enjoined members of the association nationwide to disregard any directive on industrial action and withdrawal of service declared last week by ANLCA and NAGAFF. Both groups had given the Federal Government 21-day ultimatum to look into cases of corruption and extortion of their members in the port.
“We must move away from the old, primordial tendencies of militancy evident in issuing unnecessary ultimatum, withdrawal of services, closing down of the ports, strikes, violent protests and their likes. Problems are better solved through continuous engagements and interfacing among stakeholders by effective dialogue to articulate plans and measures that will engender progress” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Chairman of the Ijora-Lillypond chapter of IFFA, Chief Lawrence Ubah noted that the moribund condition of Lillypond Container Terminal is worrisome to major stakeholders, hence the establishment of the IFFA at Ijora.
According to him, all the known, existing associations who had all it takes to bring back the glory of Lillypond terminal and its Customs Tin Can Island 2 Command has failed to do so. He assured the Tin Can 2 Customs Comptroller, Mr. Mahmud Dalhat that the coming of the association would bring a turnaround in his command and increase its revenue collection.
Ubah also assured the terminal operator and other government agencies at Lillypond that the association is set to bring about the needed connections and contacts to revive the terminal.
“IFFA is the only association for now that has all it takes to bring back the glory of Lillypond command. This is evident and can be attested to by the cream of personalities and group of people who are members of IFFA”
“The IFFA executives inaugurated today have come on a rescue mission, we have come to fulfil the mission of freight forwarders in Ijora, we are here as the last hope of the common agents and young freight forwarders” he said.
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