The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has commended the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah on the remarkable achievements recorded in protecting the interests of Nigerian shippers and the maritime industry.
APFFLON in a statement issued by its National President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, described the reported prevention of over ₦86 billion in demurrage losses and the recovery of an additional ₦4.54 billion through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism as a laudable milestone.
According to Ogunojemite, the achievements demonstrate a renewed commitment to trade facilitation, transparency, and the protection of cargo owners and freight forwarders from avoidable financial losses.
“As the Port Economic Regulator, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has continued to play a vital role in promoting fairness and accountability within the nation’s port system. APFFLON acknowledges these efforts and encourages the Council’s leadership to sustain the momentum by strengthening regulatory oversight and ensuring that all port service providers comply with established standards.”
While celebrating these successes, APFFLON urged the Council not to relent in addressing other persistent challenges confronting freight forwarders and importers.
Ogunojemite identified the challenges to include arbitrary charges, excessive port delays, poor service delivery by some operators, congestion, and other bottlenecks that continue to increase the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports.
He urged the Council to intensify stakeholder engagement, improve the efficiency of dispute resolution processes, and ensure that the benefits of its regulatory interventions are felt by all participants in the maritime value chain.
He reiterated the association’s commitment to collaborating with the Council and other stakeholders in advancing reforms that will enhance port competitiveness, reduce the cost of logistics, and position Nigeria as the preferred maritime and trade hub in West Africa.
“We congratulate the Executive Secretary/CEO and his management team on these laudable achievements and encourage them to continue building a more efficient, transparent, and customer-friendly port system for the benefit of the Nigerian economy, ” the statement concluded.
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