AREFFN Protest: Three reasons freight agents occupied SIFAX  Groups headqtrs.

…. SIFAX poised to address issues of delays, extortion others….

By Obinna Nnorom

Not long ago, the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFN) Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Chapter staged a peaceful protest at the SIFAX Group’s Corporate Head Office in Lagos.

According to the protesters they were expressing displeasure over delay in movement of containers, extortion and illegal movement of containers from one terminal to the other.

The freight agents had thronged the entrance of the SIFAX Group’s gate at 54, Warehouse Road, Apapa, Lagos carrying placards with such inscriptions as: Stop delaying our cargo for your negligence; Bahamas arrived December27,2020 cargo yet to be transferred; Silvia arrived the port on December 9, 2020, but goods not transferred yet; Vulpecula came December 2, 2020 yet to be transferred; Economic sabotage is a crime;  Enough is enough, Ports and Cargo transfer our cargo to KLT, China Shipping Company is charging us for demurrages stop the sabotage of KLT terminal among other messages.

Speaking during the protest, Chukwuka Stephen, the Secretary of AREFFN, KLT chapter, said it was a peaceful protest against the insensitivity and highhandedness on the part of SIFAX.

He stated, “We are here on a peaceful protest concerning our cargoes that have been trapped for over two months. They have refused to transfer them and it is costing us huge revenue.”

Stephen pointed that several letters had been written to the management of SIFAX to put an end to the malfeasance in Port and Cargo but their efforts proved abortive.

He explained that the rationale behind AREFFN protest was to voice their grievances against the continued stocking of containers belonging to his members at the terminal.

“We are on a peaceful protest for our cargoes that have been stocked in the port terminals for over two months. They have refused to transfer these containers to us and it is causing serious demurrages for us.” He stated that the association had written to the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC).

However, in its efforts to bring a lasting solution to the issues raised, the management of SIFAX Group said it has commenced investigations on them and other sundry challenges.

it has introduced the “Whistleblower Policy” aimed to checkmate operational activities of staff, saying some staff have been caught in nefarious acts and have been dismissed.

 stressing further, Olumuyiwa Akande, Head, Corporate Communications, SIFAX Group, explained that the situation was under control, adding that some members of the management have met with the protesters and promised to look into their demands.

Akande said: “We got to the office today and got information that some agents were coming to protest in our facility to express their grievances about some issues they have with one of our subsidiaries, which is Ports and Cargo Terminals, Tincan Island, Lagos.

“They came; we had a meeting with some of their leaders. They laid before us issues that they have: Delay in the transfer of consignments to designated off dock terminals, particularly the Kirikiri terminal and few other issues.

“Our senior management team assured them of resolving all of the issues. To show commitment, at the end of the meeting that took place at the head office, our senior management constituted about a 3 to 4-man team that went with the leaders of these agents to the terminal so that they would speak with those who are directly in-charge of the areas of complaints.

“As an organization that is customer centric, every issue raised by the agents will be resolved. If our clients are not happy, that means we are not in business. That is a key role for us as a company. It is when they are happy, we can say we are in business because they have alternatives.

 They could go elsewhere and we don’t want that to happen. Within a week or two those issues would be resolved,” Akande assured.