NAGAFF creates technical group on cargo logistics and customs facilitation
Maureen Aguta
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has announced the setting up of a technical support group cargo logistics and customs facilitation of the association to undertake specific functions.
A statement on Friday, personally signed by the Founder of NGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, disclosed that the group will facilitate and ensure that multi modal transport system and customs facilitation comes on stream in the northern part of the country.
He said, “Within the period under review we have received several complaints from our members and shippers in kano, kaduna and Abuja specifically on the inherent problems associated with taking delivery of cargo from the mother ports of the South West and Southeast to the northern parts of the federation due to insecurity, bad road and cost of doing business.”
He said to this end, the association has decided to setup a technical support group cargo logistics and customs facilitation unit to engage the agents of the government associated with regulation and control of cargo movement from the mother ports to inland container terminals.
“Therefore the primary responsibility of the group shall include but not limited to interphasing with the Nigeria customs service, Nigeria ports authority and Nigeria railway and other related agencies of the government in that regard.
“They are also expected to linkup with the organised bodies of the trade groups involved in import and export trade in the north and avail them to the opportunities provided at the inland container terminals operations of the northern part of the country,” the statement said.
According to it, the good news is the emergence of Dala Inland Dry Port, the most modern inland container terminal springing up in Kano State and doing everything possible to make importers and exporters of the northwest, northeast and north central to become competitive in their businesses. “This simply means that every importer and exporter of the northern extraction may not bother to come to Lagos or any of the mother ports of the southern part of the country to take delivery or export their cargo. Aside from reduction of cost the safety of cargo and efficient time of doing business is guaranteed,” it added.
Members of the group includes: Chief Patrick Ogbo— Chairman, Mr. Francis Omoshoto—Secretary, Dr. Arthur Igwilo— Technical Head, Dr. Clement Iwegbuna—NPS, Alhaji Muftau – Northeren Zonal Chairman, Alhaji Bello Magaji—Northeren Zonal Secretary, and Ruth Sunday—- Logistics.
The association further thanked the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service for making it possible for the the Dala Inland Container Terminal in kano to receive the first batch of containers through rail in kano today (Friday), May 31, 2024.