Massive investment in infrastructure to grow logistics business – NAGAFF

Worried by the impact of poor state of infrastructure on the logistics business in Nigeria, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has identified massive investment in infrastructural development as a way of creating more opportunities that would grow the industry.

Speaking recently in Lagos during the Freight Forwarders Day which also marked the 20th Anniversary of NAGAFF, Increase Uche, President said that the logistics and the freight forwarding business can also grow if government policy on regenerating the economy is targeted at developing critical infrastructure around the ports as well as creating an export driven economy.

Infrastructural deficiency has been one of the major problems confronting the logistics business in Nigeria as over 85 percent of the nation’s cargo and passengers are moved by road due to the bad state of the railways and inland waters.

Uche, who stated that the sector contributes significantly to the nation’s GDP, added that the logistics industry deserves an enhanced infrastructure and proper town planning to avoid a repeat of the current situation in Apapa.

On professionalism, Boniface Aniebonam, founder of NAGAFF, called on the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to grow the freight forwarding practice in Nigeria by ensuring professional practices among members.

Aniebonam, who announced his exit from association politics, said that the CRFFN Board needs to address some issue impeding the effective operations of its members and the nation’s economy.

He expressed optimism that the coming of Tsan Abubakar and Henry Njoku into the CRFFN Board will help to restructure the freight forwarding practices and also enthrone professionalism.

According to him, both leaders will no doubt add a lot of value to the freight forwarding profession. He also called on the members of the board to address the issues limiting agents from going into the ports to do their business.

The CRFFN Board, he said, needs to put in place an enforcement unit manned by the Police to address issues of non-compliance or illegalities in the system, adding that this was the case for the Standard Organisation (SON).

Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie