COVID-19: Why FG Allowed Seaports Open for Business, by Bello
Hon. Tony Nwabunike National President Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, Founder National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders
*Says even in hardest hit countries, port operations continue without hindrance
*Harps on President’s directive of giving clearance of essential goods priority
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Barr Hassan Bello, weekend explained the reason why the federal government allowed seaports to open for business despite the ravaging coronavirus in many parts of the world and Nigeria.
Bello during a press briefing attended by some stakeholders in the industry said it was normal like other countries for Nigeria to open its ports for business.
He explained that even in the hardest hit countries, port operations have continued without let or hindrance, adding that Nigeria could not have been an exception.
Bello said, “In an interdependent world, goods continue to move around and the manufacturing of goods cannot be halted otherwise economies would be in bigger trouble than they are set to be as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many essential commodities, particularly drugs, medical equipment and consumables need to be imported by many countries including Nigeria”.
According to him, it was against this background that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council stepped up its engagement with port operators by providing transportation to and from the ports daily for freight forwarders during the period if the lockdown.
He said that response to this service has been encouraging, adding that the Council visited some terminals in the course of the week and had very useful discussions with their operators.
He said the discussions have led to the Council intervening on behalf of freight forwarders with banks to extend their services to port operators in order to allow them pay fees to various agencies to facilitate clearance of cargoes from ports.
The NSC CEO stressed the need to give clearance of essential goods priority as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, such goods as medicine, medical equipment among other pharmaceutical products were most needed at such trying times.
Noting that it was wrong to have the terminals clogged up with more uncleared cargoes, Bello pointed out that following its intervention a number of banks have been cooperating as their branches opened for business in Apapa to ease transactions for freight forwarders.
He listed some of the banks that opened for business at Apapa as Zenith, UBA, FCMB and GTB, adding that discussions were ongoing.
He said that so far all the stakeholders have been very cooperative in the efforts to ensure that activities in the maritime sector suffer minimum disruption.
Apart from meeting with NIMASA and terminal operators, Bello said his Council has also been engaging the Port Health Services as well to ensure that port users, and indeed the generality of Nigerians were protected from the virus as essential goods make their way into the country.
“Nigerian Shippers’ Council has made some modest contribution in cash and protective materials towards the fight against COVID-19. However, its most important contribution is in ensuring that it does not drop the ball in terms of its responsibility as Port Economic Regulator in these very fluid and difficult times. This is why we continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that the ports run as smoothly as possible under the circumstances”, he said.
He acknowledged the hardwork, commitment and cooperation of the Vice President’s team on Post COVID-19 economy, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s Task Force on COVID-19, the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwoolu and his COVID-19 team, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Odumosu, Port Health Services, NIMASA, NPA, CRFFN, medical workers, security officers and researchers working all hours to find a vaccine for the virus, among others.
The Registrar of the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Barr Samuel Nwakohu who also spoke at the event advised freight forwarders who want to clear luxury goods to hold on until after the lockdown.
According to him, priority is currently being given to clearance of essential goods since the primary aim of the government was to look after the health of the people.
The briefing was attended by leaders of customs agents/freight forwarders associations including the President of Association of Customs Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike, Founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and President of Shippers Association Lagos State, Rev Jonathan Nicol, NAGAFF President, Chief Increase Uche, Vice President of ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto, President of NAFAC, Mr. Yinka Bakare, Chief Austen Kelly, among others.
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