The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF)has applauded the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) for re-establishing the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) platform.
The association said what the Council is doing is in line with its mandate as the Economic Regulator of the ports.
The Founder of NAGAFF, Chief Boniface Aniebonam, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, said the harmonisation of the two Acts would encourage collaboration.
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF)has applauded the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) for re-establishing the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) platform.
The association said what the Council is doing is in line with its mandate as the Economic Regulator of the ports.
The Founder of NAGAFF, Chief Boniface Aniebonam, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, said the harmonisation of the two Acts would encourage collaboration.
The association advocated the harmonisation of Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Act and the Customs & Excise Management (CEMA) Act.
Aniebonam further said that the harmonisation of the Acts would ease the work of both the port operators and the customs.
On the CTN, he said: “Cargo Tracking Note has never existed here. There was an attempt to do so and there was this problem about, who becomes the real operator.
“NPA (Nigerian Ports Authority) was there, Shippers’ Council, even NIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) was eyeing a situation of that nature.
“Right now, the Shippers’ Council, as the economic regulator, has the mandate to mid-wife anything that would bring about efficiency of the port operations.
“And of course, this again has to do with the issue of revenue due to the government because it is going to enhance that and then dwelling on security, the porous border of Nigeria.
“So a lot is required. We really need to get into that but the good thing now is that (CTN) is of no cost and that means something is wrong somewhere.
“You know Nigeria is not a maritime nation as it were because if we are, we must own vessel.”
The CTN is a global initiative put in place to monitor and verify cargoes on transit.
The initiative has the blessing of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the World Customs Organisation (WCO), of which Nigeria is a member.
It has a lot of security and safety value for shippers and other agencies of the government.
In calling for the harmonisation of CEMA and CRFFN Act, he maintained that both the Customs and the CRFFN have distinct functions.
“The Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria has that mandate to organise a professional training for freight forwarders and all that.
“The imbalance, the lack of cooperation between CRFFN as an Act and then the Customs & Excise Management Act is unfortunate, particularly section 19a and b; and of course, the Licensing Code, which has to do with sections 153 to 156.
“They need to be harmonised. If they do, that would also add value in terms of compliance and customs operations here.”
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