By Seun Ibiyemi
Multinational shipping companies operating in Nigerian waters over the weekend refused to attend a meeting called by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the country’s port economic regulator, and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN). The meeting was called to discuss illegal charges and extortion allegations levied against them (shipping companies) by clearing agents and truckers.
Recall that Freight Forwarders at the nation’s ports had issued a two-week strike notice from November 10, 2021, to multinational shipping lines operating in the country over what they called multitudes of complaints bothering on extortion and several other forms of imposition of illegal charges on their clients, the importers and transporters.
The shipping companies had earlier refused to attend two separate meetings convened by the NSC and the CRFFN which regulates the freight forwarders even though they were duly invited, a development the stakeholders described as an affront to Nigerian authorities.
Registrar/CEO of the CRFFN, Sam Nwakaohu, who spoke at the meeting, noted that it was shocking and unacceptable for the shipping lines to have stayed away from such a crucial meeting that was convened to forestall a possible shutdown of the nation’s seaports, which would have a far-reaching negative impact on the maritime industry and by extension, the nation’s economy.
He assured that the Council will reach out to other heads of government agencies in the industry, especially the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) which regulates the shipping lines directly with a view to ensuring that they attend the meeting in order to forestall a possible shutdown of the seaports, which is not desirable now.
“We will do everything within our powers to ensure that we bring all the parties in the dispute to a negotiating table in the overall interest of Nigeria. The shipping companies cannot afford to snub the CRFFN because we do not regulate them, they possibly cannot snub the NPA, which regulates them directly.
“Our interest is the freight forwarders because we regulate them and they cried to us and we cannot afford not to intervene to protect their interest, which is the interest of Nigerians and the Nigerian nation. If the shipping companies try to snub the NPA, we will be left with only one option, which is to escalate the matter to the Minister of Transport. I am sure they will not snub the minister,” the CRFFN boss said.
He commended the freight forwarders under the aegis of the National Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) for being responsible, arguing that the organisation decided not to take laws into its hands by shutting the seaports without notice.
“You are a responsible organisation and your behaviour has been exemplary. You decided not to take laws into your hands rather you chose to follow the legal process of handling such issues and here we are, so we will ensure that your grievances were addressed using all legal means and we will not let you down,” he also said.
A highpoint of the event attended by representatives of the freight forwarders led by the National Coordinator of the Compliance Team, Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim and truckers led by the Chairman of Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi was the reading of the eight-point communique which agreed that the payment of un-receipted N100,000 by freight forwarders, importers and transporters before they are allowed to drop their empty containers at the shipping companies holding bays should stop with immediate effect.