NAGAFF Stalwart Pledges To Promote Customs, Freight Agents Relationship At Tin Can Port

A chieftain of Tin Can Island Port Chapter , National Association of Government Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Comrade Emeka Philips Nwankwo has promised to embark on reorientation of practitioners and members at Tin Can Island Port on the best way to engage officers of the Nigeria Customs Service professionally.

 

Nwankwo who is contesting in the association’s forthcoming elections , maintained that some practitioners are faced with the challenge of “inferiority complex”when dealing with  customs officials in the line of duty,  but maintained that when elected into office, he would work assiduously to change the narrative.

 

He stressed the need for freight forwarders and customs brokers to get basic training and knowledge on freight forwarding practices, through the NAGAFF Academy .

 

Nwankwo who is contesting for the post of Customs ,Freight Forwarders Relations Officer at Tin Can Port Chapter of NAGAFF made the plea on Monday during a chat with DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA in Lagos.

 

Nwankwo noted that”We need to work on the capability and psyche of members when dealing with customs officials. Some practitioners lack knowledge about the profession and that is we are preaching for them to attend NAGAFF Academy to gain knowledge.

 

 

“If I win the election come August, then I know how I can impact in this area because some of the members display some level of inferiority complex when dealing with customs.

 

“The major reason for the engagement with members is to let them understand that they can’t be intimidated when they know their right. We need to synergy with customs and not to be seen as someone who don’t understand what he is doing .

 

He said freight agents ought to be abreast at par with customs personnel in furtherance to engaging them constructively and objectively without being aggressive towards reaching logical conclusion to complete the business of cargo clearance from the port.

 

“Freight forwarders need to know that they are professional and must understand what trade facilitation is all about;  they must know the job and not to be intimidated by officers who are abreast with customs procedures and processes. When you build capacity for yourself then you can look into the eyes of any office and tell them the truth .”

 

 

 

The NAGAFF stalwart  also expressed optimising that number is the game in election saying he will win the position vying for.