…Applauds House of Reps for suspending NAFDAC 2019 Budget defense
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has set up a 5-man committee to do a profile of those it feels should be relieved of their duties to enable purposeful ease of doing business in the Nigerian Ports and approved border stations.
The Head of Special Duties, NAGAFF Headquarters, Rev. Emmanuel Agubanze who made this known in a statement in Lagos yesterday said that NAGAFF was set to make strategic recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari as to those that should give way to enable the mantra of Next Level to work in the maritime and transportation industries adding that the association believed that those who were doing well in their beats should be upgraded to higher responsibilities and scope of duty while those who were not doing well should be dropped immediately, in line with the mantra of Next Level for a greater productivity.
Agubanze equally suggested that those who were spending more time carrying propaganda and deceit using the media should be treated as saboteurs in accordance with the law having been duly investigated adding that it was their hope that Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) should develop strategies and partnership to address issues of non-compliance to import and export regulations of the government.
He said,” It is common for any responsible head of the government agency assigned to our entry points and indeed the stakeholders to understand that any barrier to trade is a barrier to national development. NAGAFF can authoritatively state from its strategic standing that there is a total systems break-down in the management and administration of our ports and borders in relation to economic activities. In reality, it is to us that corruption and incompetence are the two major hindrances to our nation-building and development. Mr. President is being encouraged to pay attention to the gateways of the nation’s economy for sustainable – development in our ports and indeed Nigeria as a country”.
He described as heartwarming, the suspension of the 2019 Budget defense of the National Agency for Foods, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) by the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services over unapproved expenditure and other allegations against its Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye as reported in the various national dailies.
“It is a common knowledge in a modern day administration that government shall be in partnership with private operators and stakeholders in general. We do know from our strategic standing in the customs ports and approved boarder stations that there is no record to show that our dear Professor has ever taken time to visit the Nigerian Ports and border stations where her officers are assigned to carry out checks against fake and adulterated pharmaceutical products and chemicals.
“And for the period under review, since Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye’s assumption of duty, our dear Professor may not have bothered to engage stakeholders at the ports level to seek their cooperation and partnership in her effort to fight corruption and other negative vices against her statutory duty. It is easier and common to see Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye on Channels television accusing some Honorable members for asking for bribe. And today, look at her being accused of alleged spending money without due appropriation. Indeed corruption is not only giving or taking bribe.
“A visit to the ports environment with emphasis on access roads will leave one wondering if Nigeria is a failed state. This situation is well over one year of this kind of avoidable port cost arising from demurrage and freight rates on inward bound cargos which are regrettable. And so what is it that the Ministries of Transportation and Works have been doing all this while. If there is anything to go by, the mantra of Next Level shall be predicated on competence, knowledge and hard work. Mr. President is accordingly encouraged to take more proactive measures to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians who voted massively for his leadership”, he said.
The NAGAFF’s Head of Special Duties observed that “to achieve the objective of a greater Nigeria is for Mr. President to be circumspect in appointing heads of government who have the mandate to exercise his delegated powers for the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians”.
He continued, “At NAGAFF end, a five man Committee has been appointed to do a profile of those that we feel should be relieved of their duties to enable purposeful ease of doing business in the Nigerian Ports and approved border stations. Our areas of concern shall include but not limited to Finance, Trade & Investment, Customs, NIMASA, Inland Water Ways, NAFDAC, SON, NSC, NPA, Ministries of Transport (Aviation) and Interior”.
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