The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has issued a 21 day notice to the Federal Government with effect from the 20th of March, 2017 to correct the irregularities being perpetuated by agents of the government at the nation’s seaports, high charges and the like meted out to its members or members will have no other option than to withdraw their services from the ports at the expiration of the 21 days.
This is coming as the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) had issued similar notice to the federal government sighting the same reason as spurring them to action.
In a letter written to President Muhammadu Buhari by the Acting National President of the association, Chief Increase Uche, NAGAFF and copied to the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and 21 others regretted that the level of corruption at the nation’s seaport tends to portray the activities at the entry points as if the sector was not part of Nigeria adding that more worrisome was that the agents of government whose duty it was to protect government interests were seemingly in the forefront of encouraging corruption in that sector of the economy.
“It is with deep sense of patriotism as professionals to inform you that over time we have made several efforts to draw the attention of schedule officers in the various Ministries who have their officers deployed to the ports and border stations as to the need to stem corrupt acts in our entry points. We are glad to inform you that they have always reacted positively but unfortunately the essence of follow up and feed backs were lacking.
“At the end it appears that nothing is working out on matters of tackling corrupt acts at the ports and other entry points into the country. It is obvious that our members have been pushed to the wall for the reasons that they seem to be tired of extortion, arbitrary charges, intimidation, false imprisonment, abuse of power and authority, impunity and high handedness. However, there is a good news and the good news is that the current Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, Comptroller General of Customs, Rtd. Col. Hameed Ali and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Hassan Bello are stepping up their activities to listen to the cry of defenseless freight forwarders who are the catalyst and artery of the ports and border gateways in our international trade.
“It is our view and advice that something urgent should be done to put our ports operations in the mood of the nation with regard to stemming corruption in Nigeria. NAGAFF and its members as professionals are ever ready to work with the government with a view to ensuring compliant to import and export regulations of the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is our view that we must not pass onto our children the concept of giving bribes to earn a living. We are tired and we do not want to continue with this kind of life. It is our belief that society cannot be built in this manner and it is our desire to be part of the ongoing change in Nigeria.
“Having made our feelings known at different fora and seeing that these agents of government and those in the private sector operating in our ports and border stations have not made any concrete effort to change their ways, we have as a last resort decided to write to your Excellency, our intention to give the Government and all concerned a 21 day notice (commencing from Monday March 20, 2017) to withdraw our services throughout the nation’s ports and border stations.
“We in NAGAFF sincerely believe that with dialogue, consultation and communication, every matter could be resolved. It is sad to discuss or issue notice of withdrawal of service at the ports and border with the current economic recession in our economy and we believe that it should be the last option”, the letter read in part.
The letter continued,” Mr. President Sir, may we appeal that you direct the leadership of the various Ministries and in particular the Finance, Transportation, Trade and Investment, Health and the Police Service Commission to engage us in a conversation and dialogue with a view to averting the imminent loss of revenue that may occur if we withdraw our services indefinitely from the ports and border stations.
“We are not here to apportion blame on a particular Government Agency operating at the ports and borders but rather to inform you that there is a total system failure in our ports and borders occasioned by corruption. Mr. President, our submission above are no exaggerations, but the true picture of the rot at the sector and it is most unfortunate inspite of the general effort of the Government to stem corruption in Nigeria.
“Mr. President Sir, another window to solving this matter of inherent corruption is for you to send a special team to engage us and write a report for your action under the circumstance. We must report and inform you that there is system collapse which has resulted in revenue loss, insecurity and importation of substandard and fake products into Nigeria. The state of the ports and borders appears to be that there is nobody in-charge because of the rivalry among Government agencies in the ports. The cost of doing business in our ports is very high and uncompetitive. Our ports are not friendly and inefficient and it is endless. This has led to the diversion of Nigerian bound cargoes to neigbouring countries etc, with its attendant consequences. The concessionaires and shipping company representatives in Nigeria seem to be operating in a banana republic as it were because of the powers who may be behind them.
“We wish to acknowledge that our sister Association i.e. the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has earlier issued similar ultimatum. Added to this is that other Associations and professional groups in the sector have given notice of an imminent showdown in this regard. Our decision at NAGAFF is also in line with this thinking. We delayed in making any statement because we believe; we needed to make wide consultation among our members across the country. We want to inform the Government that the decision to withdraw our services enjoys a wide acceptability among the various organs and spectrum of our Association, as well as the broader spectrum of practitioners in the industry. We urge the Government and the authorities concerned to take appropriate and prompt steps to avert this looming showdown which could have devastating effect on the economy of our great country. Mr. President we do urge you to intervene at this critical time and it is our hope that in due time a maritime submit on trade and ports operation should be convened. The need to fast forward a National Transport Commission cannot be overemphasized for the reasons that a leader must emerge to coordinate ports functions.
“We hereby issue a notice of withdrawal of service after 21 days (with effect from 20th of March 2017) if there are no interventions over our complaints and observations”.
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