The Nigerian Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC) has continued to challenge the numerous charges levied against its members by the Federal Airport
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), through the Federal High Court in Lagos.
In a suit before Justice Abang filed by NAFFAC with Suit No: FHC/L/CS/276/2003, the association alleges that FAAN has relinquished its legal right to the collection of charges from freight forwarders after the airport has been concessioned to Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (NAHCO).
Reacting on the issue, counsel to the association, Barr. L. Ugwu stated that their position in the case is that FAAN has no right to levy charges against the association members.
According to him “the NAFFAC is contesting that FAAN has concessioned the airport to private companies who levy charges on them and the additional charges from FAAN constitutes double charges”.
Also reacting, the Chapter Chairman of NAFFAC Mr. Kamal Alade-Shabi said that “one of the charges is called Port Charge and the other is Fare Carrier Fee, these are charged per kilo and these levies are not on import alone they are also levied on export, we are saying that these excessive charges by FAAN results in increase in the price of goods in the market because the extra cost are factored into the selling price.
He elaborated that NAHCO and SAHCOL issue license and gives permit not FAAN, so we are not yielding because we believe we are pursuing a worthy cause in the interest of the populace and the nation as a whole.
He also said another issue in the suit concerns the registration of freight forwarders by, in his words “FAAN has no power to register freight forwarders because this registration attracts some cost which includes registration fee, monthly and annual dues, whereas we have the council for the Registration of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria which is a body saddled with the statutory function of registering freight forwarders in Nigeria”. He added.
The suit which was last heard on the 14th May 2015 has been adjourned to the 12th of June 2015.
