The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders has called for the creation of an enforcement unit in the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to enable it prosecute those who commit offences stipulated in the Nigerian Shippers’ Act.
NAGAFF made this call in a letter addressed to the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and also to disseminated to the media.
According to the association, the absence of an enforcement unit at the Shippers’ Council has led to increase in the level of disdain for the law as the offences highlighted in the Nigerian Shippers’ Act are not being enforced.
“The Shippers’ Council as the commercial regulator has the statutory responsibility equally to punish offenders by bringing them to justice. Shippers’ Council can be enabled by way of creating an enforcement unit with the backing of the relevant enforcement agencies to apprehend and bring to book those who breach the provisions of the Act setting up the Council as a commercial regulator of the ports”
“We appeal to you to use your good office to invoke Section 9 of the Act to liaise with the Honourable Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the federation and the Inspector General of Police to work out the modalities for creating and manning this unit” the letter read.
The association also called the attention of the Minister to address situations where government agencies were seen to be violating its establishing Act.
“In the instance whereby a government agency like Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) shall continue to operate in breach of the Act establishing it is not only embarrassing but a shameful act. It is on record that SON has continued to arrest and detain goods cleared out of the ports along the city and federal highways of Nigeria in breach of its statute to operate at the factory of manufacture or warehouses where commercial goods of their interest are kept.
NAGAFF described this as an act of sabotage to the mantra of “change” and good governance in Nigeria.
