NAGAFF Takes Delivery Of 11  Seized Vehicles At Off Dock Terminal

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has secured the release of eight  out of 11 vehicles seized by Clarion West Africa Shipping Management since June, 2021.

 

 

Efforts made by the clearing agency to get the vehicles released over a year ago proved abortive until NAGAFF through its 100% Compliance Team stepped into the matter.

 

It would be recalled that the 100% Compliance Team led by Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, their National Chairman staged a protest against the management of Clarion Bonded Terminal 3 months ago,  demanding unconditional release of the said vehicles to their members who are the owners of the vehiicles.

 

They argued that the  vehicles of their members were cleared with all duties and charges paid but Clarion management refused to let go since June last year on the flimsy excuse that Ajaji, the clearing Agency MD has an unpaid demand notice to settle, which has nothing to do with the cleared vehicles.

 

Addressing Journalists over this achievement, the  National Chairman, NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko who spoke through his Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Committee, Fwdr. Bert Okeke expressed joy over the fete, noting that the task wasn’t an easy one

 

“Today,  we came to present to the general public the vehicles NAGAFF through the Compliance Team negotiated out of Clarion Bonded Terminal that has been in dispute since  2021.

 

“14 vehicles were in dispute and were  held back between our member clearing agency and management of Clarion West Africa Shipping and today, we have been able to secure their release, all of them out if the terminal”, he stated.

 

On whether they paid  demurrage for the vehicles as earlier demanded by Clarion he said, ” that was then,  but then we kept pushing. When they said they are only  going to give us 70% of the waiver, the last push was by Mr. President, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, who went  to CAC Tincan to impress it on him that  that wasn’t the agreement we had at the negotiating table.

 

“The CAC intervened  swiftly, and by the next day we had 100% waiver . We never paid a dime on demurrage.  I commend Customs for their magnanimity”‘, he opined.

 

“I want to Commend Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) for their magnanimity as well as the management of Clarion Bonded Terminal who respected us, respected Customs and the relationship they have with all those who do business with . I must give the credit to them.

 

In his reaction, an importer and one of the owners of the vehicles seized, Mr Chidi Nzewi expressed gratitude to NAGAFF for their intervention and called on all other freight forwarders in the industry who may have  genuine cases to approach NAGAFF for mediation.

 

Our correspondent gathered that the success recorded was not without the strong inputs of the Founder of NAGAFF , Dr  Boniface Aniebonam as the three remaining vehicles would be released before the end of the  week .