Freight Forwarders Move for Revolution at Ports, Vow to Expose Promoters of Corruption
*We are tired of being slaves to shipping coys, customs officers
By Francis Ugwoke
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has come out to move against the ills of the system in the nation’s ports.
The association is specifically working to stamp out all forms of corrupt practices involving importers, customs officers and customs agents or freight forwarders.
Part of the measure was the inauguration of a Compliance Team whose duties include scouting for corrupt tendencies militating against trade facilitation in the ports.
According to the Vice President of NAGAFF Western Zone, Tanko Ibrahim who spoke during the inauguration, the move was to collaborate with the federal government to stamp out corrupt practices that have over the years militated against trade facilitation.
He said that henceforth, the team will ensure that importers make correct declarations of goods that they to clear.
The team will work towards facing the shipping companies and terminal operators against all forms of excessive charges.
Tanko added that the team will also move against resident customs officers in the ports and their camp boys, also known as kelebe, including sampling of imported goods by agencies at the ports.
He gave an indication that the first thing is self cleansing involving importers and their customs agents to do the right thing and challenge those who would wish to thrive on exortion.
He said with this, it is expected that Customs officers, shipping companies, terminal operators must equally do the right thing to promote good practices at the ports.
Ibrahim said, “We are not here to witch-hunt anybody, we are here to do what the law says, we would start from our importers, every importer should do 100 per cnt declaration. Secondly, we the freight forwarders, it is our duty to ensure that all our cargo has been examined by the Customs Services, we are tired of being slaves to government agencies. Today, shipping companies and terminal operators, we are just like their slaves, we are tired of this. We have agreed now and we are ready to comply.
“Our duty is not Customs alone, people think we are here to face customs, it extends to shipping companies, terminal operators and other government agencies. If you don’t comply, then we would do the needful. I want everybody to understand that we are not alone, the compliance team is not alone, we attached ourselves with government and they are ready to hear from us”.
Apparently doubting if members of his team will be courageous enough to carry out the assignment, he warned that everyone must be ready to be loyal.
He said, “Anybody who comes under my leadership must respect himself, they must be loyal, as you see me, I take instructions from my superiors, same thing, they must take instructions from me. Today, NAGAFF is a moving train, if you are ready to join the train, you can come onboard. If you are not ready to join, you should give way.”
The Chairman, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Alhaji Tsanni Abubakar who represented by Prince Ozo Chukwura, welcomed the efforts of NAGAFF as imperative to achieve trade facilitation.
Abubakar called on members of the team not to be intimidated by either customs officers, shipping companies, terminal operators and other agencies of government in doing the right thing that will promote the economy.
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