Worried by the level of systemic corruption in the nation’s international gateways, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has established and inaugurated the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU).
The Unit which has Hon. Increase Uche as its National Chairman, Mr. Joachim as the Vice Chairman while Mr. Stephen Ibe will serve as the Secretary is expected to o find the remote and
immediate causes of corruption in the nation’s international gate ways and find solutions to them.
According to a public notice issued by the NAGAFF headquarters recently, the Unit would collaborate and network with the Anti-Corruption Units of Government Agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service,
Nigerian Ports Authority, the Police and other sister associations with a view to achieving a coordinated approach to Anti-Corruption war.
The notice therefore advised Freight forwarders and NAGAFF members in particular who are patriotic to enlist in the rebranding of Nigeria using the tools of Anti-Corruption crusade for the good of the greater numbers.
“We regret to announce that the yearnings and hope of salvation is fading away from freight forwarding
practitioners because of seeming inaction from the new leadership of the customs on matters of systemic corruption etc.
“The inherent abuses and alleged corruption in the leadership of CPC of TCIP are direct signs of disloyalty and an act of sabotage to the present Governments stand on matters of corruption. We shall in due course make further statements on the inherent abuse and high degree of corruption associated with rerouting of risk management options, local alerts and stoppage of released goods at the final exit gates by the CPC leadership at TCIP.
“The seeming meddlesome nature of the APM of TCIP over Customs operations are allegedly characterized with corruption acts. The duty of ASYCUDA project manager is basically administrative but it is most unfortunate the present state of affairs wherein value question has become part of his schedule instead of valuation unit officers. We consider this as a breach to the rules of engagement or work order as may have been approved by Nigeria Customs Service Board.
“In the light of the above concerns of the freight forwarders, may we therefore ask the APM of TCIP DC Saidu Aliu whether he is a corrupt officer? His reaction shall enable our further statement because reports reaching us at NAGAFF Headquarters is that alleged unreceipted expenses around the APM office on matters of re-routing, alert and stoppage of containers are put at about N20 million per day. The attention of the CGC is hereby drawn to our public observation. We also will want to know if DC Saidu Aliu has done his asset declaration as a civil servant. The actualization of the mandate of Mr. President to the CGC of the Nigeria Customs Service Hameed Ibrahim Ali with respect to curbing corruption in the Service is definitely in doubt and is now in focus with the alleged corrupt practices of these kinds of officers”, the notice stated.
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