The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has come up with a 10-point agenda to tackle corruption and all forms of infractions at the seaports.
To this end, the Association has set up a team tagged ‘100 per cent Compliance Team,’ with a mandate to sanitise the people the people on the dangers inherent in unlawful activities and operations at the ports.
Speaking during the flag off of sensitisation exercise in Lagos at the weekend, National Coordinator of the team, Ibrahim Tanko, unveiled the Team’s ten point agenda which he noted would bring sanity in the activities of both the officials of the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency For Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Ports regulators, importers, freight forwarders, agents and other stakeholders in the ports’ environment.
Tanko noted that the major point of the team’s agenda was that it would assist Nigerian Customs to achieving its revenue objectives by educating all operators and freight forwarders on the need to play by the rules.
He said the team would sensitise the importers on the need for honest declaration of goods, adding that other points in the Team’s agenda would also, include, ensuring 100 per cent examination of cargoes, exposing corrupt practices in the system and assisting regulatory agencies such as SON and NAFDAC, among others to maintain standards in products.
Others are, protecting the interest of freight forwarders in disputes and to be the voice of freight forwarders, as well as holding government agencies accountable for infractions and dispel the fear of the unknown on the road in cargo delivery.
The Compliance Team Coordinator said there was need to stop unlawful, dangerous and implicating activities which some freight forwarders and agents engage in.
He noted that some of these obnoxious activities include using their company names to assist importers in bringing goods into the country, even when they do not know the real contents of the consignments.
Tanko, speaking on the endemic corruption in the system, averred that there are some customs officials who connive with freight forwarders to manipulate the system.
“We know there are some corrupt customs officers, but because some of us are not doing the right things so they continue to collect money from us. A lot of money is exchanging hands at the ports which should not be the case. Some of these corrupt officers have four or five camp boys who collect money for them.
