National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has constituted a technical committee to assess the performance of the nation’s port concessionaires .
The association also issued a two month mandate to come up with its report for onward submission to the supervisory Ministry of Transportation.
National President of NAGAFF ,Chief Increase Uche while briefing newsmen at the inauguration on Thursday at the association headquarter in Lagos , reiterated that the committee would embark on re-evaluation and assessment of port concessionaire APM Terminals Apapa and proceed to other terminal operators in Lagos ports.
Uche recalled that APMT was concessioned as the biggest terminal in the premier Port in 2006.adding that since then, they have been in operation, delivering services based on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed during the concession arrangements of 2006.
He explained that the exercise would extend to other terminal operators in Lagos but added that “NAGAFF high Command in her wisdom has decided to carry out a holisticre-evaluation/a comprehensive assessment of the performance of APMTamong others.
“As the link that brings all the players together in the general supply chain, the freight forwarders have been dutifully carrying out their role as required particularly, in ensuring a seamless flow of ports operations, covering all the terminals including the APMT.
“Our experience in the course of dischargingour professional duties vary from one terminal to another.
“From our informed knowledge the APMT has remained one of the terminals that has not achieved the purpose for which thegovernment carried out the reform in the maritime industry.
“It is based on this fact and for numerous other reasons that this assignment is herebybestowed on these selected members with the onerous task.
He called on them to carry out thorough investigation and research in ensuring unbiased reports about the terminal..
Also speaking at the inauguration, founder of the association, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam tasked the committee to be diligent in their fact finding mission adding that the move is to ascertain how policies have been impacted on economic growth and development.
