The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on importers and exporters in the Eastern Ports and Bonded Terminals to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations guiding ports’ operations.
Head, Ports Inspection Directorate (PID), NAFDAC, Enugu/Anambra Outstation, Mr John Okwori, made the call at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on Friday in Awka.
Okwori’s statement followed the recent handover of Onitsha Inland River Port to a new operator.
He said due to the development, it was the expectation of NAFDAC that business activities would soon pick up at Onitsha Port.
“The federal government has made Onitsha a port of destination and departure and by this, business activities will soon blossom at the port.
“All what is now needed is for importers and exporters to be knowledgeable, be equipped and be armed with the basic information on the usage of the ports to ensure seamless businesses,” he said.
While noting that the agency’s operations are already automated, he explained that one would not be required to visit NAFDAC office to obtain necessary documents to export or import products.
Speaking on the concessioned Onitsha Inland River Port, he explained that goods coming into the port would no longer require to stop over at either Onne or Lagos Port.
He, therefore, encouraged importers and exporters to show more interest in the Onitsha Port and the Bonded Terminals in the area, assuring them that the agency would ensure smooth operations at the ports.
An official of NAFDAC, Mr Tenalo Princewill, who delivered a paper on ‘Enhancement of Clearance Process at the Ports, Seaports Land Borders and Bonded Terminals,’ noted that the agency’s automation was for transparent business transactions.
According to him, at physical inspection level, if violations were encountered, the timely release of container could be delayed.
He listed categories of violations to include: documentary level (false declaration), product packaging violations, labeling lapses, unapproved pictorial and importation with permit among others.
Another official of the agency who delivered another paper on ‘Enrollment of Clearance Processes at the Ports,’ Mr Uzoma Ihembiri, cautioned importers and exporters against violation of the rules.
He told them to always use the federal government’s trade portal as every process had been designed for users.
Area manager of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Onitsha, Mr Lambert Kalu, on his part, said the Council had beamed its searchlights on the activities of alleged fraudulent persons who had constituted problems to legitimate activities at the ports.
The meeting had representatives of importers, exporters, clearing agents, Customs, terminal operators, Nigeria Shippers Council and other stakeholders in attendance.
