NAN-H-57
By Bolaji Buhari
NAGAFF
Lagos, Dec. 5, 2016 (NAN) The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to boost activities at the various ports.
The National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr Stanley Ezenga, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
He said the continued low importation activities induced by forex crisis especially at the Tin-Can and Apapa ports had greatly affected government revenue, impinging negatively on the economy.
“The ports are a veritable source of revenue to the government and the country. Unfortunately, the country has not benefitted much from the ports recently because of the low importation activities induced by the forex crisis.
“There is the need for government to devise ways of making the ports the hub of economic activities once again for the much-needed revenue.
“Government should take measures to stimulate importation of items that could not be manufactured competitively in the country.
“We also suggest that government lifts forex restriction on some 41 imported items. With this and more , the ports will come back to life and play their part as major drivers of the economy,” Ezenga told NAN. (NAN)
BHB/AJA
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(Edited by Adeleye Ajayi)