... queried terms of agreement without compensation
... Accused Webb Fontaine of deliberate Sabotage to Nigerian Economy
By: Bisi Akingbade
The aftermath of the continuous epileptic services provided by Webb Fontaine as agency responsible for the provision of Information Technology(IT), Telecom Infrastructure and network management to the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS at the Nigerian ports since 2006 has made the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics in Nigeria, APFFLON, to call on the Federal government to break the monopoly of Webb Fontaine due to inefficiency and epileptic services at Nigerian ports.
The President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite at the MAJAN roundtable in Lagos, said that the operations of Webb Fontaine as the internet service provider for Customs is detrimental to Freight forwarding business and the entire country.
His words "When issues happened in port people think its Customs. It is not particularly Customs. This issues are webb Fontaine. They are the internet Service provider for Customs. It is through this server we can capture our jobs. And when this breakdown you can Imagine what happen.
"And we have taken this issues to the house of senate and house of representatives.
"And on those reports we queried two things. What is the term of agreement between Webb Fontaine and Ministry of Finance? How did they come about this contract and there is no provision for compensatory arrangement? When the server is down and have not been able to capture my job and held up to pay a rent at the detriment of epileptic from Webb Fontaine? This is totally wrong and uncalled for.
"How do we solve it out at the end of the day, the money collected by Shipping and terminal operators resulted to capital flight, an injury to our economy can not be quantified.
Ogunojemite made appeals to the Federal government to critically look into the operations of Webb Fontaine and why Webb Fontaine can not be replaced, even with records of inefficiency at Nigerian ports
"So we need to appeal to the Minister of Finance to look critically on these issues. We need to appeal to the President of this country to call them to order.
"And this same webb Fontaine provides service in Dubai and other countries, they are not giving this kind of services given to us in Nigeria.
"So, who is behind this? Because I got to understand that Webb Fontaine belongs to Jerry Guana, who is a Jordan man and use to be a Director with United Nation Conference and Trade Development, UNCTAD.
"So we need a clarification from the government what is the term of the contract with ministry of Finance? Who are the people behind? How come they are not been responsible when they could not provide their services. He asked.
"And what is happening with modernization of Nigeria Customs? Are we still being at Customs is going to be modernised or are have they been modernised?
"And if they do, what is their relationship with Webb Fontaine.
"You can Imagine they said they want to start cargo tracking not, CTN, and I responded if you follow me in APFFLON very well you will see my response. We have collected surveys on Webb Fontaine
APFFLON President also called for immediate provision of more scanners at the port across the country to enhance efficiency, while also calling on the Federal government on total overhauling of government agencies at the ports.
" It is not about Collaboration but efficiency " He concluded.
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