_By Abbas Nazil_
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged the federal government to address the numerous challenges plaguing Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The call was made by the association’s founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, during an interactive session with officials from the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Apapa, Lagos.
He specifically appealed to the Minister, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, to tackle pressing issues that have hindered the sector’s growth and efficiency.
Aniebonam commended the minister for his achievements but stressed that unresolved issues continue to stifle progress in the industry.
He highlighted key concerns, including the abuse of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Act, disregard for Cabotage laws by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service, and the presence of foreign freight forwarders operating at the ports.
He also pointed out the lack of financial autonomy for the CRFFN, arguing that these issues need urgent government intervention to restore order in the sector.
In his address, NAGAFF’s National President, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, emphasized the infrastructural and regulatory challenges facing the industry.
He expressed the association’s commitment to working with the government to find solutions that will foster sustainable growth.
He urged ministry officials to prioritize port efficiency, reduce cargo dwell time, and improve the regulatory framework governing freight forwarding.
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Additionally, Ezisi called for increased capacity-building initiatives and professional development programs to enhance indigenous participation in the blue economy.
Other stakeholders at the meeting, including Paul Ayayi, raised concerns about inefficiencies in the sector’s digital payment systems.
He criticized the absence of official email communication channels, as well as unexplained deductions from payments without refunds.
Training and retraining for industry professionals were also identified as crucial areas that require government support.
Some speakers at the event argued that NAGAFF, despite being a non-governmental organization, should receive financial backing to support its advocacy efforts and industry development initiatives.
They emphasized that collaboration between NAGAFF and government agencies would be essential in addressing the sector’s long-standing problems.
In response, ministry officials Solomon Zaks and Matthew Ayanja reassured the stakeholders that the government is committed to addressing their grievances.
Ayanja noted that free training sessions had been conducted in Lagos and Port Harcourt in the previous year and pledged that such programs would continue.
Both officials promised to escalate the concerns raised to the minister for further action.
The crisis in Nigeria’s maritime sector remains a major concern, with industry players calling for swift government intervention to prevent further disruptions and inefficiencies.
