To facilitate access to operational information, the Nigerian Ports Authority has agreed to integrate the transaction portal of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria into its web portal.
The Managing Director, NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman, disclosed this while receiving members of the CRFFN governing board who paid her a courtesy call recently, according to a statement.
She explained that the move was aimed at creating a synergy between the activities of the NPA and the CRFFN.
She informed the CRFFN delegation that the NPA management was carrying out a review of the concession agreement with the terminal operators to put them in shape in line with global best practice.
The review, which is financed by the World Bank, includes sanctions for either of the party that is found to default in the agreement, according to her.
The Chairman, CRFFN, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni, said the council was in the NPA in search of a mutual relationship and collaboration in port operations.
He recommended that permits be issued to registered freight forwarders who have legitimate business at the ports to guard against unauthorised access and security breach at the ports.
Tsanni also called on the agency to intervene in the various challenges operators face at the port, among which are delays caused by the long dwelling time of cargo, traffic gridlock, and non-provision of holding bays for empty containers by shipping agencies.
He urged the agency to address charges slammed on importers arising from shipping companies not having holding bays.
The NPA also hosted the visiting members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders led by its Chairman, Chief Increase Uche, who paid a courtesy call on Bala-Usman.
She assured them that the Federal Government was very mindful of the need to comply with international best practices in the ongoing Lekki Deep Seaport project.
She noted that the port, when completed, would be able to accommodate bigger vessels, adding that the project, which was being handled by the China Harbour Company, was at the breakwater point.
