Trade Policy: Nigerian Government Warns APM Terminals, Others Over Non-Compliance

The Federal Government of Nigeria has warned APM terminals at Apapa and others to adhere to government’s freight forwarders’ directive on the collection of practitioners operating fee, POF.

Speaking during a meeting between officials of the Ministry of Transportation and Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders and terminal operators in Lagos weekend, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said since the introduction of the policy on February 24, 2021, some terminal operators have failed to comply with the agreement reached, which has resulted to loss of revenue to the country.

Ajani said the ministry could no longer ignore the actions of the terminal operators, explaining that the job of the ministry was to ensure that government policies were adhered to.

According to her, where there is failure to adhere, it leaves the ministry with no choice but to look at sanctions that can follow such disobedience of policy in the future.

She said the ministry had given terminal operators two months to key into the collection of POF, after which sanctions would be applied for those who failed to abide.

Ajani stated that one of the importance of the POF was that it would enhance the fortunes of freight forwarding in Nigeria.

She pointed out that the POF would promote global competitiveness and build capacity for effective participation in the new Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.