The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has counseled the Freight forwarders on the need to be careful in funding any transaction related to cargo clearance out of Customs control.
In a release signed by the Deputy National President Seaport of the association, Prince Obums Anene and made available to Primetime Reporters on Tuesday, NAGAFF cautioned that all receipted transactions related to cargo clearance and Customs formalities must be paid by the Consignee as clearly stated in the import and export guideline of 2006 extant.
“Consequently, we urge and encourage all practitioners to ensure that our principals are persuaded to be compliant to import regulations. Invest and practice wisely with honour and integrity to avoid loss of hard earned resources to revenue traitors. We should also be very careful with Customs law with regard to revenue due to government which is very punitive against offenders- please see Sections 46 and 47 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) for emphasis”.
“We wish to advise freight agents who are in the habit of turning to overnight importers with intent to have businesses to stop because of the inherent danger and liability thereto. Customs laws have a life span of seven years to discharge it as may be deemed fit by the Nigeria Customs Service Board”, the statement read in part.
NAGAFF therefore advised that the best approach to sustainable freight forwarding practice was to be compliant to import and export regulations to protect oneself from what it called avoidable stress of prosecution and economic loss which may follow such infraction against the laws of the land.
“We must all be patriotic to build a greater Nigeria of our dreams”, the statement read.
