…Calls for attitudinal change
The Founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam has called on the Federal government to strive towards upholding the law using the instrument of constitutional provisions and established platforms rather that the use of ad-hoc committees in the administration of the state affairs.
Aniebonam who made this call in a press release he issued in Lagos stated that to achieve this objective, a total welfare package for the government operatives and the law enforcement agents must be ensured and implemented.
He noted that government should strive to create wealth for the good of the greater number of the Nigerian people adding that the Nigerian people must be made to become productive so as to add value to nation building.
He said,” Whereas the greater number of the Nigerian people voted for change in Nigeria, there is the need for attitudinal change in the way and manner we do things in our country. The change in Nigeria is not about President Muhammadu Buhari but the will of the Nigerian people to abide by the rules and orders in Nigeria. To build a greater Nigeria and society, there is the urgent need for the agents of the government to enforce lawful orders and regulations of the government of Nigeria”.
Aniebonam who is also the National Chairman, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) while calling to duty all the freight forwarding practitioners operating in the nation’s gateway, however advised them to be the first Nigerians to advance the course of best practices and respect for the rule of law and order in the country charging them to take responsibility of leading by example in all their approved international routes.
According to him,” To achieve this, we must be compliant to import and export regulations by making genuine declarations of imports and exports in Nigeria for customs purposes. When freight agents become compliant to import and export regulations, the resultant effect shall include but not limited to increased revenue earning to the government, discouraging importation of sub standard and fake products into Nigeria and all other matters related to untrue declaration for customs purposes”.
The NAGAFF boss further observed,” This is the right time for the leadership of Nigeria Customs Service and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to meet and harmonize the two legislative instruments (CEMA and CRFFN Act) governing the administration and management of customs formalities and freight forwarding practice in Nigeria”.
“Whereas the CRFFN Act seeks to encourage professionalism, the CEMA should lend support to it to achieve the concept of best practices. The two leading freight and licensed customs agents associations in Nigeria (NAGAFF and ANLCA) with other sister associations must close ranks and work together for the common good of all concerned in our international trade”.
Dr. Aniebonam therefore advocated for all to join hands with the new administration of President Buhari, the Nigeria Customs Service and other related agencies of the government at the entry points to achieve the set objectives of competitiveness, friendly and efficient ports in the country.
