By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has suspended its planned withdrawal of services and industrial action following the resolution of operational concerns with APM Terminals at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued on Thursday by the National Coordinator of the association’s 100 per cent Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, after engagements with the terminal operator.
According to the communiqué, both parties acknowledged the operational challenges facing APM Terminals, noting that the Apapa Port, regarded as the busiest port in the West African sub-region, receives the highest volume of vessel calls, placing significant pressure on existing infrastructure.
The communiqué stated that the terminal operates within the land allocated to it by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), adding that it cannot expand beyond its designated operational space.
It explained that the limited space available for receiving imported containers remains one of the major factors affecting cargo handling operations at the terminal.
As part of the resolutions reached, the parties agreed that there would be no further extension of cargo positioning dates, while the current allocation of 200 containers for daily positioning would be maintained.
Freight forwarders were, however, advised to increase their bookings on weekends and Mondays to improve cargo evacuation and reduce congestion.
The communiqué further stated that APM Terminals and industry stakeholders would sustain regular engagements to promptly address operational issues as they arise.
It was also agreed that alerts issued by government agencies relating to cargo operations should henceforth be channelled through the Cargo Advisory Committee (CAC) to enhance coordination and communication among stakeholders.
The Managing Director of APM Terminals, Mr Karmal Alhraishat, who assumed office about three months ago, assured stakeholders of management’s commitment to addressing operational challenges and improving service delivery.
The suspension of the planned industrial action is expected to ease concerns over cargo operations at the nation’s premier seaport and strengthen collaboration between terminal operators and freight forwarders.