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By Steve Agbota
Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has rejected the new haulage rate approved by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) for eastern seaports, which it described as outrageous.
In a statement issued by the association’s national president, Frank Ogunojemite, the group said the reviewed haulage rates approved by the NSC said to be in consideration of current cost moderation and cargo transport issues do not reflect the current reality.
“We hereby wish to announce our rejection of the new haulage rate from eastern seaports to various destinations across the country approved by Nigerian Shipper’s Council.
“We wish to state here that the new haulage rates are outrageous and a clear reflection of gross insensitivity on the part of those who sat at the negotiation table not excluding the Nigerian Shipper’s Council as an agency of the Federal Government,” Ogunojemite said.
According to him, APFFLON is dissatisfied with the new rates and urge the NSC to quickly make a downward review. He said the association believes that the Shipper’s Council boss was mislead into giving his approval to the rates.
“We wish to state that the new rate will emasculate businesses at this particular time, therefore, we urge Nigerian Shipper’s Council to quickly carry out a downward review of the charges as they do not represent the interest of the generality of the people and neither reflect the current economic reality.
“APFFLON hereby wish to caution the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shipper’s Council on leaving a bad legacy at the agency and also advise him to thread carefully in taking certain decisions in order not to ruin his reputation. We call on the CEO to go round and feel the pulse of the people before giving his approval to certain proposals.
“We hereby state that the new haulage rates are unrealistic as some of them have additional 140 per cent increase when compared to the old rates. The Chief Executive Officer must not allow people who do not mean well for the maritime industry to ruin his reputation.
“Furthermore, we urge the Federal Government to always implement policies with a human face, especially at a time when people are struggling to feed,” he warned.
He said the biting economic situation must be considered in whatever decision they are taking, people are struggling to feed, there is hardly a family that can boast of affording three square meal a day.
Generally, he said times are hard, so coming up with new rates that are 140 per cent higher is a reflection of gross insensitivity on the parts of those who sat at the negotiation table and the Nigerian Shipper’s Council that approved such rates, and APFFLON is never a party to such anti-people policy that will not facilitate trade as it is also not in line with the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business.
“On the demand for improved maritime workers welfare, APFFLON is appealing to the Federal Government to look into the matter as the present economic reality calls for upward review of salaries and emoluments of Nigerian workers in all sectors of the economy,” he lamented.
He said the current inflation is something to worry about, adding that workers are going through hell as their monthly earnings can not even put quality food on their table not to talk of other primary needs.
