The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has agreed to integrate the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) transaction Portal into the agency’s web portal. This according t the NPA will facilitate CRFFN’s access to operational information.
Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman disclosed this while receiving members of the CRFFN governing council, who paid her a courtesy call, even as she explained that the move is to create a synergy between the activities of the two agencies of government.
The team from CRFFN was led by its chairman; Abubarkar Tsanni.
She seized the opportunity of the visit to disclose that the NPA was presently carrying out a review of the concession agreement with the terminal operators; she added that the exercise was being bank rolled by the World Bank.
In his address, the Chairman of the CRFFN, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni informed the management of NPA that the body was in the NPA to seek for a mutual relationship between both parties with a view to further having an efficient service delivery through a seamless Port operation across board.
He called for an improved collaboration with NPA in addressing the issue of unauthorised access to the Ports especially as it concerns those with no legitimate business in the Port. According to him, permit need to be issued to Registered Freight Forwarders as contained in the CRFFN Act, section 19 [1] to urgently avert any security breach in view of the volatility of the Port axis and most especially unwarranted human traffic.
Tsanni, while enumerating the various challenges facing the port industry such as delays caused by the long Dwelling Time of Cargo, traffic gridlock, and non-provision of empty containers Holding Bay by Shipping Companies, requested management of NPA to take a holistic approach to the charges slammed on Nigerian importers arising from shipping companies not having Holding Bays.
He further stated that the present CRFFN executive which came on board in 2018 met an environment that was not conducive for port operations especially as it concerns the port infrastructure leading to the ports.
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