• Strike Called off
• ANLCA , NAGAFF Presidents Laud Members Action Over Protest
• Minister Summons Gladiators To Abuja
After earlier prevarications, the management of APM Terminal late Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the leadership of clearing agents’ associations. By the development, the strike action embarked upon by freight forwarders against the terminal operator has been called off.
• Strike Called off
• ANLCA , NAGAFF Presidents Laud Members Action Over Protest
• Minister Summons Gladiators To Abuja
After earlier prevarications, the management of APM Terminal late Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the leadership of clearing agents’ associations. By the development, the strike action embarked upon by freight forwarders against the terminal operator has been called off.
The terminal operator had initially refused to sign the MoU, but our sources confirmed that, it got an order from above to immediately enter into the agreement with the embittered agents for the strike to be called-off.
After about two days of intense negotiation, an agreement was said to have been reached between the terminal operator and the clearing agents’ associations. But Shipping Position Daily confirmed late on Friday that APM Terminal had bluntly refused to sign until the superior order came.
Confirming the prevarication to our correspondent earlier, the chairman of Apapa chapter of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Mr Olumide Fakanlu said that, “we waited for APMT at NPA office at Marina, but they refused to turn up”.
He confirmed that, even though most of the issues that were brought to the table had been agreed upon, he had no understanding as to why the terminal operator failed to turn up at NPA to endorse the MoU.
Because of the new development, a joint press conference that was planned by ANLCA, NAGAFF and other associations to announce the suspension of the strike was later called off.
But it was confirmed that, the MoU was later signed and that, another meeting has been scheduled for today between APMT and the agents, while the Minister of Transport; Idris Umar has also summoned the contending parties to another meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
The meeting will also be attended by the ports’ economic regulator; the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
But earlier on Friday, the presidents of the two leading freight forwarding associations, namely- Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) commended their respective members over the shutdown of operations at the Lagos Ports Complex.
The freight agents had commenced the protest against the terminal operator over what they called obnoxious charges by the concessionaire.
A solidarity rally which was organised by the two associations at Apapa port on Friday was attended by Prince Olayiwola Shittu from ANLCA and his counterpart from NAGAFF, Chief Eugene Nweke. They attended with top executives of their respectively associations.
Addressing the aggrieved agents last week at the entry gate of Lagos Port Complex, National President of ANLCA Prince Olayiwola Shittu expressed satisfaction over members’ attitude and resilience in their protest against APMT.
He noted that it is the first time that freight agents in the maritime sector will sustain solidarity for such a long period, stressing that violence will not resolve the issue at hand, but with a peaceful protest, there are clear indications that the freight forwarders and customs licensed brokers are indeed professional.
Shittu said, “I am very proud of you because when I look at you for the first time in the history of agitation we have been able to hold ourselves together without violent, in spite of the provocation, and prove to the world that we truly are professional people.”
According to him, there are some freight forwarders who have the intention of sabotaging the protest.
‘’This protest is just a warning and it will be done all over the federation”.
Making reference to the MoU that was later not signed, he said, “the government has told me that a copy of this agreement should be forwarded to the National Security Adviser and they are ready to nip it in the bud and that we should withdraw our action which we are planning not to do”.
On his part, the national president of NAGAFF, Chief Eugene Nweke commended members of both associations over the actions even as he added that the agents have been able to protect the interest of Nigerians to a certain level.
“You did not only protect the sovereignty of this nation on the hand of this white vulture, you have proven that indeed if Nigeria should provide leadership that Nigerian has what it takes to change the situation. “,Nweke said.
He lampooned APMT for its obsolete facilities stressing that it is an economic sabotage.
The NAGAFF boss, the protests have been able to protect the interest of the country and the action marks a new beginning in the freight forwarding practice.
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