NAGAFF Urges Honest Declarations , As Apapa Customs Begs Freight Agents To Prioritize Medical Checks

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called on customs brokers and agents in the supply chain system to ensure honest declarations during cargo clearance at the seaports.

Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, Founder of NAGAFF, gave the charge on Tuesday in Lagos during a working visit by the management of the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), led by Comptroller Babatunde Olomu to the headquarters of the foremost freight forwarding association .

Aniebonam stated that the Apapa Command of Customs has personnel with the intellectual capacity to train young freight forwarders on modern techniques associated with trade facilitation.

The founder of the association assured the visitors that NAGAFF will continue to partner with the customs service. He also called on members of the association to resolve issues amicably with customs to promote seamless port operations.

Aniebonam, who is also the founder of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), further commended the Area Controller for the reduction of cargo detention along the highways.

Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, President of NAGAFF, welcomed the customs top brass and his management team, emphasizing the need for a robust working relationship between customs and NAGAFF.

Earlier, Comptroller Olomu maintained that licenses can only be renewed at the Abuja headquarters.

Regarding revenue drive, the Comptroller noted that the Apapa Area Command achieved significant progress in the collection of government tariffs in the first half of the year.

Despite the tight schedule in line cargo clearance by the freight forwarders, Comptroller Olomu urged freight agents to prioritize their health despite their tight schedules, advising them to engage in regular exercise and medical check-ups.

Emphasizing the importance of medical checks, Comptroller Olomu stated that the customs has a medical center that can also cater to freight forwarders at an affordable cost.

The customs top brass commended the leadership of NAGAFF for their support and encouragement since his deployment to Apapa Command and stressed the need for sustainable working environments between both institutions.

Meanwhile, a cross-section of association members took turns to express operational challenges.

Questions raised included the renewal of licenses within the proxy command instead of Abuja, the unannounced deployment of officers to the Area Customs (referred to as “borrowed officers”), and issues related to dispatch, among others.