The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) says it has created a technical cargo and customs facilitation group to undertake multi-modal transport system for its members.
In a statement on Saturday in Lagos, NAGAFF Founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, said that creation of the group followed complaints by its members and shippers in Kano and Kaduna states, as well as Abuja.
“They specifically complained about the inherent problems associated with taking delivery of cargo from the mother ports of the South West and South East to the northern part of the country,” he said.
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Aniebonam said that the members and shippers cited insecurity, bad roads and high cost of doing business.
He said that the group would come on stream in northern Nigeria to ensure customs trade facilitation.
According to Aniebonam, NAGAFF decided to set up the group to engage agents in ensuring smooth facilitation of cargo logistics for its members and shippers.
Aniebonam said that the primary responsibility of the group would be to interface with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) and other relevant agencies of the government in that regard.
He said that the group would be expected to link up with trade groups involved in import and export trades in northern Nigeria and avail them the opportunities provided at inland container terminals within the northern metropolis.
“The good news is the emergence of DALA Inland Dry Port, the most modern inland container terminal springing up in Kano State.
“The group is doing everything possible to make importers and exporters within the northern metropolis to become competitive in their businesses.
“This means that every importer and exporter of the northern extraction may not bother to come to Lagos or any of the mother ports in the south to take delivery or export their cargos.
“Aside from reduction of cost, the safety of cargo and efficient time of doing business are guaranteed,” he said.
Aniebonam listed some of the technical group members as Chief Patrick Ogbo, Chairman; Dr Arthor Igwilo, Technical Head; and Alhaji Muftau, Northern Zonal Chairman.
He praised the managements of the NRC, NPA and NCS for ensuring that the Kano inland container terminal received the first batch of containers through rail transport on May 31.
He urged port operators to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration in actualising its Renewed Hope Agenda.
