The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service have expressed concern at the way political aspirants in freight forwarding associations flagrantly post election posters at every wall within the port, thereby de-facing the environment.
The two agencies chided both the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) for not cautioning their members, the associations were advised to make use of bill boards during their electioneering campaigns.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service have expressed concern at the way political aspirants in freight forwarding associations flagrantly post election posters at every wall within the port, thereby de-facing the environment.
The two agencies chided both the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) for not cautioning their members, the associations were advised to make use of bill boards during their electioneering campaigns.
A source at the NPA told Shipping Position Daily that the freight forwarders had already been advised to keep the port clean, but that they deliberately try to frustrate the NPA’s efforts at giving the port environment a face lift.
"NPA is already fulfilling its own part by making sure that the port is kept clean, but the agents will liter the port with posters of election"
"We have already discussed the issue at our meeting and very soon we are calling for a stakeholders meeting on it"
"It costs us a lot of money to remove the posters every time, we just did it recently and painted everywhere, now it’s back" the source lamented.
Also speaking on the issue with our correspondent, the image maker of the Tin Can Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs; Chris Osunkwo confirmed that a clear directive had been issued that agents should desist from abusing the port environment.
He said that some officers have been placed on alert to apprehend anyone caught in the act of pasting election posters on walls within the port area.
Osunkwo who observed that the posters are making the port untidy, pointed out that the perpetrators usually "come by midnight, when you come in the morning, you just find it there, but officers have now been placed on alert over this".
"Our landlord, which is NPA is not taking the matter lightly, we have told them to either do a billboard where they can put their posters", he stated.
But while reacting to these allegations, Financial Secretary of Tin Chapter of NAGAFF, Patrick Ofoegbu justified the action of the freight forwarders, saying that it is a normal thing.
Ofoegbu said that it is inevitable to have posters littering the port during a major election of two of the biggest freight forwarding associations in the sector.
"In every election, even presidential elections, you will see posters pasted at every corner, so this is not different, the posters are placed at the right places, it is not inside peoples’ bedrooms that we will put the posters"
"If it is de-facing the port, then the NPA have to use money after the election and wash it off, during elections they should expect things like this, this is where we belong and we have to place the posters where elections will take place" Ofoegbu argued.
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