Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has vowed to impose sanctions on terminal operators that are yet to comply with the directives of the Federal Government concerning the collection of the Practitioners Operating Fee (POF).
Affirming the Council’s resolve during a conversation with our correspondent last week, the Registrar of the council; Barrister Sam Nwakohu, said it recorded 29, 714 paid invoices for the month of July 2022.
In a telephone chat, the registrar said the Ministry of Transportation already gave a directive on payment of POF and as such by the expiration of the deadline the council will sanction the erring terminals.
Nwakohu also confirmed that following compliance by APM Terminal and WACT in Lagos and Onne respectively, there has been tremendous improvement in the POF accruals.
Also speaking to our correspondent, Director, Regulations and Enforcement CRFFN, Basil Oparah , informed that APM Terminal and WACT are responsible for over 6,137 paid invoices out of the 29,714 paid invoices for July 2022.
Oparah further informed that the ministry directed the council to further engage non-compliant seaports terminals and bonded terminals to comply or face government sanction after 10th September, 2022.
He said the Council is working with all stakeholders to ensure that full compliance is achieved in all seaport and bonded terminals nationwide.
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“As at 1st July, 2022 some non-compliant Terminal Operators commenced POF enforcement, these included APMT and WACT. These two major container terminals are responsible for 6,137 paid invoices of the 29,714 paid invoices for the month of July 2022.
“On this ground, the Council updated the Federal Ministry of Transportation as usual on the statistics of POF enforcement nationwide and according to the attached letter from the Ministry, we were directed to further engage non-compliant seaports and bonded terminals to comply or face Government sanctions after 10th September, 2022.
He added that, “on this light, the Council have since engaged some major seaport terminals as well as bonded terminals that are yet to comply with government directives and are receiving responses. The Council will update the Ministry as directed after the expiration of the timeline”.
“The Council is working with all stakeholders to ensure that full compliance is achieved in all seaports and bonded terminals nationwide” he assured.
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