By Foster Obi
National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) is alarmed at the various complaints with regard to multiple trade alerts of the various Government agencies assigned to the Nigerian ports over a single transaction.
A statement signed by Rev. Emma Agubanze, Head of Special Duty NAGAFF Headquarters said the office was mandated to carry out a systems audit of the various complaints with a view to ascertaining the true position of those complaints, adding, “In their report of findings, it was found that there is indeed multiple trade alerts over a single transaction in the Customs ports on trade goods.”
According to the statement “Areas of concern include, but not limited to, Nigeria Customs, NAFDAC, SON, Nigerian Police, NESREA and NDLEA. It is to the understanding of NAGAFF that trade alerts are basically placed on goods with intent to draw the attention of the operatives where there is a case of reasonable suspicion that the interest of the Government and the public are under threat. “Unfortunately this simple trade advice has become a source of extortion and avoidable breaches of the policy of ease of doing business in the Customs ports. It is the opinion of NAGAFF that Government should, as a matter of urgency, intervene with a view to harmonizing the application of trade alerts in line with the policy of ease of doing business in our ports.
“Wherein NAGAFF is insisting on the need for Government to harmonize its relevance in ports operation with regard to trade alerts, it is most desirable that Shippers and Freight practitioners should at all times endeavour to be compliant to import and export regulations of the Government. When this happens it shall become the tonic the policy of ease of doing business needed to blossom to the glory of God and the society. It is known to NAGAFF that the remote cause of trade alerts is based on non-compliance attitude of shippers in making genuine and correct declaration of export and import goods for Customs purposes and other related regulations concerning standards and quality assurances of goods imported/exported.
“Under the circumstances and situations in which we have found ourselves, the way out of the wood shall mean that every stakeholder and Government agencies should be patriotic and professional in their conducts. We in NAGAFF are strongly holding the belief that blackmail and/or witch-hunting ourselves may not resolve this matter except if all concerned decide to play by the rule. In the opinion of NAGAFF, the essence of legislation and regulations is to ensure orderliness and competitiveness in our trade transactions. We believe that this matter is finally put at the door step of the Government because of its inherent power of coercion using the instrument of arrest and prosecution of offenders in order to bring them to justice. It is a fact that society cannot make meaningful progress if laws are not obeyed or enforced,” the statement noted.
“Accordingly, all NAGAFF members in particular are hereby directed to ensure due compliance to import and export regulations of the Government. It is only by so doing that NAGAFF shall respond to practitioners rescue in case of intimidation or extortion by the agents of the Government. It is also necessary to inform all practitioners that NAGAFF management team is in direct contact with the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Police and Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) who are ever ready to attend to issues promptly whenever they occurs. On the other hand it shall add value to the policy of ease of doing business in our ports if the leadership of NAFDAC, NESREA and NDLEA should endeavour to engage stakeholders as partners in progress in their statutory duty on behalf of the Nigeria public.
“And for the avoidance of doubt and notice to practitioners who are in the habit of non compliance to import and export regulations, it is on record that some time ago the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service arrested arms laden container from Turkey. We regret to inform practitioners and particularly those who may not be following the matter at Customs Headquarters investigation department. At the moment the Nigeria Customs Service is still investigating this matter to ascertain the real importer, the freight forwarder and the licensed agent who out of ignorance in the name of looking for business used his personal company to undertake the documentations process. Presently, the importer’s representative who was arrested by Customs and later granted administrative bail has gone ahead to the IGP office alleging forgery of his TIN number. The Agents have been arraigned in Court in Abuja, over what he knew nothing about but indeed ignorantly used his personal company to stand as the importer. As it stands now, the importer has denied any involvement except Nigeria Customs Service is able to fish him/her out using this technique of forensic investigation.
“It is to the glory of God, the society, trade transactions and policy of ease of doing business that we do inform all freight forwarders operating in Apapa and TCIP Ports that the Comptrollers are taking measures to harmonize unregulated alerts in their domain. It is our hope that other heads of government in the various sectors of ports operations should take a cue from the proactive nature of these gentlemen officers to facilitate trade. While congratulating the Commands of Apapa and Tincan Ports in the area of revenue collection and accounting, it shall be professional if officers are made to understand that Customs Management Board did not approve bench marking of revenue collection in the Customs ports.
“We also appreciate the effort of the AIG Maritime who had equally directed that all matters concerning Nigerian Police for whatever reason should be referred to his office in line with ease of doing business. Precisely, the AIG has directed that so long as the matter under investigation is related to seaports business transactions from any Police formation it should be brought to his attention,” the statement declared.
