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By Kenneth Jukpor
The Apapa Chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called the attention of the Federal Government to the absence of container holding bay and other state-of-the-art facilities at APMT Terminals, Apapa, Lagos.
The group made this known in a letter signed by the Chapter Chairman, Mr. Ndubuisi Uzoegbo earlier today, which was sent to the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shipper’s Council (NSC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Police A.I.G Maritime, Nigerian Maritime Adminsitration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Lagos State Commissioner of Police, National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
“We use this medium to call the attention of the Federal government of Nigeria, the National Assembly, the civil societies, relevant stakeholders in the maritime indudtry as well as the general public on the pains we suffer as freight forwarders through our work engagements with shipping companies and APM terminal operators.
“APMT is not worthy to be called a terminal as it lacks state of the art facilities and have no standard holding bay with inadequate logistics which causes freight forwaders to bear the cost” the report said.
According to the group, APMT has conspired fellow multinational agents to create bottlenecks in shipping business in the country through deliberate delays, only extort exorbitant continuous charges as demurrage on containers.
NAGAFF accused APMT of deliberate internet network system breakdown, perpetual denial of access into the ports and most times placing all containers’ delivery on hold for some flimsy excuses because they have limited holding bay.
“The terminal and shipping companies make us to pay heavily for their lack of adequate logistic which is nothing but gross injustice against us. We must also mention has gross consequence on market prices of goods and it affects the Nigerian economy at large as the foreign parasites who owns the shipping companies and the APMT milk us with disdain, since they have nothing to lose”
“We make bold to say that we cannot continue to be slave in our own country under these neo-imperialistic agents. It should also be noted that for a year now, the shipping companies and APMT have not made any measure to consider freight forwarders and importers on the high cost of transport associated with the Apapa/Wharf road constructions. Instead, they only continue to frustrate our efforts with huge deductions they make on container deposits” the group said.
The NAGAFF Chapter lamented that APMT made no contributions to the road reconstruction in Apapa, except for continuous extortion due to the on-going road construction which has forced most freight forwarders out of the industry as a result of the financial constraints.
The group also added that shipping companies and the APMT have introduced several arbitrary charges, while lamenting poor conditions of service, unconducive work environment and inhuman treatment as their halkmark.
Meanwhile, on the issue of 24 hours cargo clearance, the group also called the attention of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to look into the risks that freight forwarders bear in moving to and from the ports during odd hours as most times there are reported cases of freight forwarders attacked by hoodlums while they go about their businesses at the ports.
“We want NPA to provide us a cargo village just like the Federal Aiports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has done at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport. This would ease our operations at the ports” it said.
The NAGAFF Apapa Chapter also stressed the need to create designated offices for freight forwarding associations so they could easily monitor opearations as it affects members and get feedback reports to both the government and the general public.
Some of the bold statements by the group; “We make it bold and clear that it is inhuman to subject us to pay outrageous charges. It is our position that the excessive charges levy on us can only be described as modern day slavery in our country. We say NO to demurrage till the completion of the road under construction.
“We demand that all reductions made on containers deposit in the last one year should be refunded. The regime of impunity by the duo of the shipping companies and the APM terminal has to end now! We demand with urgency that trasport facilities should be provided by APMT from the ports to examination bays.
“We also demand that a medical centre should be constructed for freight forwarders, truck drivers and maritime workers by shipping company and APMT as a corporate social responsibility with immediate effects. We also demand with immediate effects the activation of all bonded terminal in the APAPA command so as to reduce the work load in the APMT holding bay. We have empirical grounds to show that most articles of the concession Agreement are being violated by APMT and her conspirators particularly as they affect us and we would not relent until just is done” the group stated.
