The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Concerned Accredited Freight Forwarding Association (CAFFA), Dr. Frank Ukor has given reasons why the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been working hard to ensure that the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) did not survive.
It will be recalled that CRFFN was established by the Act No. 16 of 2007 to train, register and regulate the activities of the Freight forwarding practitioners in Nigeria.
Speaking at a forum in Lagos recently, Ukor stated that it was no longer hidden that the Men and Officers of the NCS had worked much against the CRFFN adding that the Service had done almost everything possible to see that the Council remained comatose.
According to him,” You are all aware that the authorities of the Nigeria Customs Service have worked much against the Council for The Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN). They have done almost everything possible to see that it is still comatose.
“I want to tell you, in case you don’t know, that the reason is not far-fetched. Just as the President of IMAN (Importers’ Association of Nigeria) said, most of the crimes that are committed at the ports are committed by customs officers, those who engaged in clearing goods. It should not be so.
“Most of them have licenses, that is why sometimes when we talk about ANLCA, when ANLCA make so much noise that they have the highest number of customs license, I say go and sit down, most of those licenses belong to customs officers and it is because these licenses belong to them and because they don’t want to come under the regulation of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria that they were all bent on making sure that CRFFN does not exist or does not survive”.
He noted that that was why they were calling on the current Comptroller-General of the NCS knowing his background as a disciplinarian to bring sanity to bear on the Service.
Ukor who is also the National President of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria (AREFFN) disclosed that the area the Comptroller-General was going to start sanitizing the Service was to start clamping down on those officers who were still in the Service and operating customs license adding that those were the people making it difficult for government policy to thrive in the sector.
“This is because they are the ones classifying, they can declare whatever they like whereas if I pay that, my goods cannot exit the ports, they can do whatever they like and it goes. And they are security risk because do not be surprised that most arms and ammunitions that are leaving the ports could be traced to them.
“They have the powers, they have the paper, they can sign and it will exit the port which freight forwarders cannot do and that is why the current CGC should look into it to find out those of them who want to do business. If you want to do business, then resign from customs and come into clearing and they will use their licenses. But if they continue to practice as customs officers, they should drop their licenses and face their job”, he advised.
Earlier, the National President, Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Chief Dr. Osita Okereke (OON) opined that 80% of customs officers were operating customs licenses while collecting salaries as employees of the Nigeria Customs Service saying that that was why it was very difficult for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to monitor whatever that was transpiring at the ports.
Okereke hinted that IMAN had earlier written to the Federal Government asking for partnership with them on profiling the importers with the intent of unmasking those who were importing dangerous items into the country which the Federal Government approved but was unfortunately thwarted by the customs.
He said, “Importers Association of Nigeria wrote to the Federal Government of Nigeria to partner with us, to have a synergy so that we can work hand in hand to examine the importers, to know those who are importing dangerous items. It was approved and after the approval, the fight started when the head of the customs refused that NATForce will not work because they know who they are.
“I can tell you that 80% of customs officers are operating as clearing agents, they are collecting salaries and also are operating as clearing agents. That is why it is very difficult for Shippers’ Council to monitor whatever that is being transpired”.
He however emphasized that IMAN would profile all the clearing agents noting,” I don’t see how a civil servant can also be a clearing agent. That is why you see containers flying. With N3 million, you will bring in ammunitions and it will go out of the ports. Our lives are in danger”.
He continued, “As we are leaving here, I am going to talk to the government to make sure we are empowered that this profiling of the clearing agents must be done to know those who are clearing agents”.
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