NAGAFF: Compliance Team To Engage Customs Next Week, Says 60% Of Bonded Terminals Lack Equipment

The 100% Compliance Team of  National Association of Government Approved Freight  Forwarders(NAGAFF) has disclosed that 60% of bonded terminals operating in the country lack the requisite equipment to service operational activities for effective  clearance of cargoes.

 

National Coordinator !00% Compliance Team of NAGAFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko who disclosed this , again reiterated the group’s commitment to monitor the evaluation exercise of bonded terminals by the committee set up by the Nigeria Customs Service .

 

The Coordinator disclosed that his team will engage  the customs committee next week  on the progress recorded in line with the facts finding mission.

 

He stressed that NAGAFF 100% Compliance team would ensure that progress in its facts finding mission is achieved adding .

 

Tanko noted that 60% of terminals  visited by  his team  lacked space, forklift, offices, and a good environment, saying that container examination cannot be carried out during the rainy season and wondered about the criteria used in granting  license to the operators.

 

The NAGAFF Chief  frowned at the attitude of terminal operators who transfer cargo to bonded terminals without the consent or permission of the owners.

 

According to a statement on Thursday, Tanko said  his team will again revisit the bonded terminals queried by  the customs committee along with journalists and submit their findings including video evidence and photographs to the appropriate authority.

 

Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko who used the forum to introduce members of the NAGAFF 100% Compliance Response Team, Headquarters present at the occasion , commended the leadership of the Customs Service for the quick response to their clarion call and expressed hope that the committee led by a reputable and uncompromising personality will live up to expectation.

 

“We are going to revisit those places that they visited. If they go to terminal A, we are going to revisit that terminal A , after they have finished their job there; But we won’t do it alone, we are going to do it with the press so that nobody will  say we are lying.

 

“They will use their videos and cameras to record our findings and we will write our report so that in case they (the committee) compromise. But I know that the person heading that committee is a man of integrity, I know him, I am not expecting him to compromise.”

 

”And I say it again that if after their report, they find out that we are telling the truth, then we need to find out who issued them the license in the first place. They need to bring that person to book.

 

“So this is an  issue of customs, nothing concerning the 100% Compliance Team. We have  thrown the challenge to them. They only called me that Tanko, we have set up a Committee, they are now in Lagos. The area Controller asked me to come and see them. I went there, they introduced them to me.”

 

“We are not the people that said we should do the right thing rather it is the government agencies like customs, NDLEA and the rest that said the freight forwarders were not doing the right thing.

 

”We the 100% Compliance Team have been complaining and agitating for people to do the right thing. We started with the importance of the agents. Today we are one year and four months old. Our compliance level is up to 60% now.

 

”Somebody decided to do an honest declaration booked for examination and  found out that there is no forklift to drop the container for examination and I said, go and do the right thing and examine your container, and there is no forklift to do the examination and he is paying demurrages. You know it hurts.

 

Tanko  frowned at the attitude of terminal operators who transfer cargo to bonded terminals without the consent or permission of the owners.