Members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders have questioned the mandatory port pass that was recently announced by the Nigerian Ports Authority as a requirement to access the ports.

The stakeholders opined that the identity card issued by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria should be sufficient to access the port.

In February, the NPA, in a notice signed by the Port Manager of Tincan Island Port Complex, Abubakar Sani Isa, addressed to members of NAGAFF, urged all stakeholders operating at the port to obtain the Port Pass before the April 30, 2025, deadline.

In the notice sighted by The PUNCH, the NPA stated that the Port Pass remains the only legitimate permit for port access.

The NPA, while emphasising the security implications of the requirement, cited the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code Level 1 enforcement.

“Failure to acquire the pass before the deadline would result in access restrictions, preventing non-compliant individuals from entering the facility,” the notice read in part.

Reacting to this in a recent event in Apapa, the Deputy National President of NAGAFF Seaport Chapter, Mr. Afam Chukwuma, lamented the government’s failure to properly regulate access to port operations.

Chukwuma highlighted the absence of proper certification and streamlined regulations, arguing that many individuals enter the freight forwarding business without the necessary experience or accountability.

“The current regulatory framework does not adequately distinguish between legitimate freight forwarders and unqualified individuals,” Chukwuma said.

He advised the NPA to review the system to ensure that only certified professionals are granted access to the port.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Apapa chapter of NAGAFF, Mr. Eze Uchendu, challenged the NPA’s decision, questioning why the identity card issued by the CRFFN was not recognised for port access.