Following the moves made by the Standards Organization of Nigeria [SON] and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control [NAFDAC] in order to find their way back into the port, a freight forwarding group; the Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition, has condemned the National Association Government Approved Freight Forwarders [NAGAFF] even as it criticized its founder for canvassing for the return of the agencies.
Following the moves made by the Standards Organization of Nigeria [SON] and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control [NAFDAC] in order to find their way back into the port, a freight forwarding group; the Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition, has condemned the National Association Government Approved Freight Forwarders [NAGAFF] even as it criticized its founder for canvassing for the return of the agencies.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, National Coordinator of the group, Chief Osita Chukwu Patrick alleged that the founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam had gone on national television and speaking in favor of the sacked agencies to be returned to the port, this according to Osita, negates the interest of all freight forwarders and that the statements can only create confusion.
‘’Today we came to discuss issues which came as a result of blackmail and cheap publicity in order to fine tune familiarity with government by Doctor Aniebonam Boniface. We are here to checkmate his activities as par the negative influence he is creating within the sector. Those negative impressions he is giving to the public will never be condone any longer by save Nigeria freight forwarders, Importers and Exporters Coalition. Nigerian freight forwarders should not follow leaders that will lead them to death’’
‘’Formerly we do not want to mention names during meetings like this but this time around we have to mention name because it’s very disappointing of Dr Boniface Aniebonam to be creating confusion at the port and those confusion he has been creating in the ports and his dirty utterances does not go down well with government initiatives and orders in port monitoring and port activities’’ he said.
Chief Osita also linked the NAGAFF founder to the National Assembly and alleged that he has been lobbying them for the return of the agencies to the port albeit for selfish reasons.
According to him, the presence of the NAFDAC and SON inside the port is uncalled for and they should only be invited into the port when their presence is needed. He explained that the organogram of the port does not give room for all these agencies to be located inside the port.
“Do I need to consult SON before I drink ketron. Do I need to consult SON and NAFDAC to play music or laptop for them to come and certify it before I use it? No. it is not done anywhere in the world. Dr. Okonjo Iweala and her team means good for the nation but some individuals are trying to thwart government efforts”
According to him, the National Assembly has no right to act against an executive order given by the president on the removal of these agencies from the ports.
He also said that the National Assembly ought to have called for a stakeholders round table meeting on the way forward to port problems instead of giving orders on who should stay in the port or not.
‘’The national assembly should go with their legislative duties rather than gambling with port activities and port operation. National Assembly should visit the port and see the suffering of the port users before giving orders on which agencies should work in the port or not’’.
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