NAGAFF Self – Determined To Arrest Govt Officials Involve In Corrupt Practices At Seaports, Border Posts

By Roland Ekama

 

In a bid to eradicate corruption at the seaports, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 100% Compliance Team has reaffirmed its commitment to assist the federal government in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure best practices in the nation’s ports and border stations in the country.

NAGAFF Head of 100% Compliance Team,
Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim who made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, disclosed that the association is ready to voluntarily pick up bad officers from the various agencies of the government posted to entry points who are considered as part of the problem against renewed hope for Nigeria greatness .

Tanko in the statement titled : CORRUPTION IS THE REMOTE CAUSE OF UNREST IN NIGERIA– matters arising Nigerian ports , stated that the country can not survive with the level of corruption across all the sectors of the economy.

He stressed that “Let it be on record that NAGAFF has the capacity to escalate corruption act against any body found to be sabotaging the efforts of the federal government of Nigeria at this critical time of depression among Nigerians.”

According to him, the duty of officers are simple and straightforward to ensure full compliance to shipping regulations of the government adding that their various functions are clearly outlined in the extant rules and regulations guiding import and export procedures of Nigeria .

To stay out of corruption act and related negative activities , Tanko noted that heads of government agencies and parasatals assigned to ports and borders have not ask it’s officers to extort money from Nigerians who come to the international frontiers to transact businesses .

The Coordinator lamented that most agents of the government, regrettable are bent selfish interests noting that the level of neglect over government interest in relation to enforcement of law and order of the society is alarming.

He affirmed that it shall be a statutory duty on the part of agents of the government to protect the interest of the port users noting that It is to the contrary at the moment occasioned by corruption at the various entry points.

The freight agent called on management of the Nigerian Police Force to caution a particular officer under Maritime Command over alleged impunity at the seaports .

“To set example of our intent to tackle corruption, unprofessional conduct and indiscipline of some officers of the government in the Nigeria ports , we hereby draw the attention of Inspector General of Police to a particular officer serving at Maritime police Command Obalende Lagos Nigeria .

“This particular officer is so corrupt with impunity and courage that his superior officers can not even talk to him over his bad conduct for over three years in that Command

“This observation is being forwarded to Inspector General of Police and DIG Finance for further investigation and NAGAFF is prepared to provide material evidence in this regard .

“We look forward to Inspector General of Police reaching out to us at NAGAFF headquarters 2a Maybin Street Apapa GRA Lagos. This observation is equally being forward to the AIG Maritime command for her information and we know that this particular officer may have received several warnings from appropriate higher authority

“We also know that a Customs Command and Nigeria Shippers Council have severally intervened over this particular officer issuing stoppage letters to terminal operators and shipping companies on cargo at the ports.

“It is also important to note that a substantive Commissioner of police and his officers have observer status and resident at the ports and yet this particular officer A/P 117542 kept on distorting port orders and standards corruptly

“We also know that past Inspector General of Police may have issued various warnings to the police formations to stop meddling with customs statutory functions and yet this particular officer will never listen

“It is our belief that proper investigation by IGP monitoring unit shall reveal soonest this particular officer and his activities to serve as deterrent to other corrupt officers of the Government Agencies assigned to the ports.” Tanko stressed.