The President, Shippers’ Association Lagos State, Mr Jonathan Nicol, has said that hard times await Nigerian freight forwarders as foreign firms have taken over sourcing, shipments and clearing door-to-door contracts.

Nicol said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to him, a report reaching us indicates that outsourcing has taken about 75 per cent of the freight forwarders’ jobs as foreign firms take over outsourcing of raw materials for industries in Nigeria.

He said, “Freight forwarders will have to groan because foreign companies have taken over sourcing, shipment and clearing door-to-door contracts.”

Nicol said that this was due to the inability of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide the required foreign exchange.

He said that unemployment rate might go up in the maritime sector under the outsourcing arrangement with foreign investors.

“Cost of goods will hit the rooftops. Inflation will rise.”

Nicol urged the Federal government to curtail the dominance of the freight forwarding sector of the maritime industry by foreigners.

The shipper also suggested that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) should institute a platform to assist the Federal Government on policy issues affecting the maritime community. (NAN)

•Photo shows Sea Vessel