By Godfrey Bivbere & Grace Okpaneka

Freight forwarders under the aegis of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, have charged terminal operators at the Lagos ports to automate their operations to improve service delivery for port users.

Speaking with Vanguard in Lagos, the Vice Chairman of NAGAFF, Tin-can Island chapter,  Ifeanyi Emor, said lack of automation by most terminal operators is making cargo clearing process cumbersome.

Emor explained that Gremaldi Shipping, operators of Port and Terminal Multipurpose Nigeria Limited, PTML, with fully automated clearing process has the most seamless operations presently in the country.

He called on other terminal operators to borrow a leaf from PTML to ensure that the nation’s ports are efficiently and effectively managed in line federal government desire.

Emor stated: “The only terminal operator that works within five working days in processing container deposit refund is PTML, they do not interface with you.

“You do not need to see them but just make your application on-line and within some hours you will get a response in your email that your application has been received and will process it within five working days.  

“I commend Shippers Council’s efforts, I see them as the only body that is interested in the challenges that we are having in the maritime industries. So what they are doing today is in other, they are trying to register operators in the industry on the need to be recognized in the environment that they operate in.

“You need to register for them to know you, so when there are issues and you complain, they will look at the data base and act on it.”