Unimpressed by some government policies which were at variance with shipping and freight forwarding businesses in the nation’s maritime sector, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, (NAGAFF), has advised its members to jettison their apathy towards political activities in the next dispensation.
It would be recalled that NAGAFF founder Dr Boniface Aniebonam who is also the chairman of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) recently relinquished his association activities in the maritime industry to enable him play active role in the political activities in the country where he intend to use his wealth of experience which he had garnered over the years to impact positively on majority of Nigerians through economic empowerment and developmental programme as he did while nurturing the association.
In a release titled: Towards the 2011 General Elections – a Wakeup Call to Freight Forwarders and Other Practitioners in the Freight Industry and made available to the Shipping Position Weekly at the weekend, NAGAFF said that the shipping and freight forwarding industry has gone through tremendous transformation after the 1999 general election. “However, it is also true that it has not been rosy for the industry despite the fact that we facilitate revenue collection and employment opportunities aside from hydrocarbon industry. The major bane of our industry is simply centred on factors that are policy driven”.
NAGAFF regretted that there are several government policies that are impacting negatively on the shipping and freight forwarding industry. “The various laws, regulations, operational orders and trade policies are oftentimes made by some politicians. It is our belief in NAGAFF that our colleagues in the industry should no longer show apathy towards active participation in political affairs …”
Saying that the association clearly understands and appreciates the problems of shipping and freight forwarding in Nigeria, NAGAFF said its council members had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the leadership of the New Nigerian Peoples Party to provide a platform for all freight practitioners who may be interested in elective offices in 2010.
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