Speaking with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, Chairman of the chapter, Cosmos Ndimkora, who dissociated his members from the attack, said that the association has taken it upon itself to fish out the attackers.
Ndimkora noted that with the recent introduction and full implementation of the electronic port pass at the terminal, genuine agents will be easily identified.
“No member of NAGAFF in PTML will ever indulge in anything that will tarnish the image of the association. We have however set machinery in place to investigate and identify who the boys are whether they are touts or not. From the information I gathered the boys are not known. But if we stay unchecked here, it is not to anybody’s advantage, there are people who just come and steal money here, so the port pass will help identified those who are genuine freight forwarders”, he said.
The NAGGAFF chieftain also advised individual agents to liaise and work with credible license owners to gain access into the port as the electronic port pass does not recognize independent freight forwarders.
“If you are a freight forwarder here, try to attach yourself to a license because it is the license that can get you an identity card because shipping companies don’t deal with individual freight forwarders.
“The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is yet to put its acts together, if they cut their teeth and we do away with licenses, an independent freight forwarder who is dully registered with the Council can easily come into the port with identity card and registration number. For now, we are dealing with licenses and you must be attach to a license before you can get access to anywhere inside the port”, he said.
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