The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has accused journalists covering the Nigerian Maritime industry of dishing out incisive reporting to provoke the withdrawal of service from the customs ports.
The National Publicity Secretary of NAGAFF, Mr. Stanley Ezenga who stated this in a statement he issued in Lagos alleged that some of the journalists who carried out a follow up report on a 21 day notice of withdrawal of service issued to the federal government by NAGAFF and its sister association, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) were being sponsored to do so.
Ezenga further accused some of the heads of the government agencies of desiring that the ports be distressed with the withdrawal of service by the freight forwarders.
The NAGAFF spokesman however maintained that the incisive reporting notwithstanding, the subsequent action to the extent of withdrawal of service by NAGAFF members was in the public interest as the corruption level and breaches of statutory laws had become over bearing.
According to him,” We want to appreciate the initial meetings NAGAFF may have had with the Customs, NPA and Shippers Council with a view to avoiding the impending withdrawal of service by our members in the Customs ports and approved border locations of Nigeria. We have severally explained that the issue of withdrawal of service from the ports and borders should be the last option in a democracy. The expectation is that Government should engage the oppressed in a sincere manner with a view to resolving all issues raised for the good of our country and international trade in particular.
“NAGAFF is of the opinion that heads of the Government who for obvious reasons are acting within the delegated powers of Mr. President should be proactive in their responsibilities because nobody should expect Mr. President to be everywhere. In the opinion of NAGAFF, it is apparent that some of the heads of the Government agencies want the ports to be distressed with the withdrawal of service by the freight forwarders.
“We have equally noted the incisive reporting of a section of the press to provoke the withdrawal of service from the ports and it is our opinion that some of them are being sponsored in that regard. Whatever it may be, the subsequent action to the extent of withdrawal of service by members is in the public interest because the corruption level and breaches of statutory laws have become over bearing”.
He disclosed that the meeting between NAGAFF and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Monday April 11, 2017 was a mark of countdown to withdrawal of service from the Customs ports and approved border stations adding that “the inquisitive press is hereby advised that the 21-day notice is not sacrosanct. The implication is that after the 21 day notice, we may not give any other notice to withdraw our services if the situation at our ports and borders remain the same”.
While encouraging the Customs, NPA, Police, SON, NAFDAC, terminal operators and shipping companies to take up responsibility to address all issues of avoidable corruption and breaches of the port orders in a regime that abhor corruption act in Nigeria, Ezenga advised all freight forwarders to tidy their transactions and clear their goods on time to avoid being caught in the web of service withdrawal.
“However this can only happen after the forthcoming freight forwarders assembly to be organized by NAGAFF and ANLCA wherein the mandate of freight forwarders shall be obtained before the withdrawal of service”, he added.
Recall that NAGAFF and ANLCA had issued a 21 day notice of withdrawal of service with effect from the 20th of March, 2017 over high cost of doing business at the ports, corruption and high handedness of the government agencies at the port asking the President Muhammadu Buhari to take steps to address the issues raised or risk withdrawal of service by members of the associations if nothing was done to assuage their complains.
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