Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has issued a stern condemnation of Grimaldi Agency Nigeria for advertising the sale of empty containers in United States Dollars, describing the action as “a direct affront to Nigeria’s economic stability and a sabotage of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
APFFLON National President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, said it was alarming that a company operating within Nigerian territory would choose to price local assets in foreign currency at a time when the government is intensifying efforts to stabilize the economy and strengthen the Naira.
“It is completely unacceptable that empty containers, assets physically located within Nigeria, are being priced in U.S. Dollars.
“This unnecessary dollarization of domestic transactions places avoidable pressure on the foreign exchange market, undermines confidence in the Naira, and contradicts national economic policies,” Ogunojemite stated.
He warned that such practices are anti-local content, disruptive to the business environment, and harmful to Nigerian importers, freight forwarders, and logistics operators who earn their income in Naira.
According to him, the move by Grimaldi Agency poses a serious threat to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic recovery, currency stabilization, and reducing dependence on foreign exchange.
“If this is allowed to continue, it will further erode the value of the Naira and weaken the resilience of the maritime and logistics sector,” he said.
APFFLON called on the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to urgently intervene and enforce policies mandating the use of Naira for all domestic transactions. The association stressed the need for regulatory clarity and decisive enforcement to prevent further distortions in the economy.
Ogunojemite urged maritime and logistics operators to align their practices with national economic priorities.
“Nigeria’s recovery is a collective responsibility. No operator should take actions that undermine our financial sovereignty,” he added.
APFFLON reaffirmed its commitment to defending the interests of Nigerian freight forwarders and ensuring that the maritime sector remains a positive contributor to national development.