…Urges SON, NAFDAC, NDLEA, others to do same
…Applauds Lagos State Governor on opening up of Mile 2 – Tincan Island Port corridor
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, APFFLON has commended the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, for approving a 5 day Adminstrative and Operational Awareness Training programme for Declarants (Agents).
A statement signed by the National President of the association, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite on Monday and made available to Primetime Reporters stated the well attended workshop which held at Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos from 11th to 15th of March, 2024 was a huge success.
Ogunojemite quoted the Nigeria Customs Service as saying that the training of declarants (Agents) was targeted at providing comprehensive insight and guidance on the emerging administrative and operational trends in the Customs Clearance Process.
While noting that the workshop was a proof of the Comptroller General’s commitment to human capital development, he said, “We thank the CG for approving the training and also thank every freight forwarder that participated in the programme as well.”
“The large turn up of freight forwarders was a clear indication of their hunger for knowledge. APFFLON was amazed by their massive response and we must give kudos to the Comptroller General of Customs for approving the workshop, all Command Comptrollers and the facilitator, Compt. Oluyomi Adebakin. We want to say here that freight forwarders are happy with the gesture.
“Even as we commend the CGC, we also want to use this medium to urge him to always carry stakeholders along even to WCO (World Customs Organization) programmes and other international conferences. All these will make positive impacts on individual participants as it targets at enhancing their capacities and transforming them to become true professionals”, he added.
APFFLON boss also used this medium to appeal to other government agencies to tow the line of the NCS by regularly organizing trainings and sensitization programmes for Nigerians. “We urge Standards Organization of Nigeria-SON, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control- NAFDAC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency- NDLEA to borrow a leaf from the Nigeria Customs Service”, he further said.
On the opening up of Apapa port corridor by the Lagos State Government, Ogunojemite commended the Lagos State Governor, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo- Olu, for the heroic feat even as he believed that freight forwarders and other maritime stakeholders were also happy.
“The decision was a noble one, and we applaud the collaboration. A lot has happened on that corridor, many lives have been lost while some have been permanently disabled trying to navigate that corridor. Before now, going to Apapa through that route was a big risk. APFFLON cannot thank the Governor enough, we admire his courage and willpower as we hope and pray that the new order be sustained.
“APFFLON also commend the authorities for clearing the shanties raised in agglomeration along port access road, and we are of the opinion that those things that do not portray us well as a nation are not supposed to be allowed especially in a metropolitan city like Lagos. The port environment should be kept clean always because it is an international business area.
“Once again, we thank freight forwarders who made out time to partake in the workshop and urge them to always make themselves available for such programmes in future because knowledge, they say, is power”, he concluded.
Photo: Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, National President, APFFLON.
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