Members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) have been charged to forward all the receipts of their transactions with terminal operators and shipping lines agencies to the headquarters of the association.
The national President of the association, Chief Eugene Nweke said this while sharing the biometric Identity Cards to members, last week.
Nweke said that the appointment of Nigerian Shippers’ Council as port economic regulator was aimed at addressing the plight of freight forwarders who were always short-changed by operators.
In relation to the recent court ruling that affirmed the council as the port regulator, he said it was necessary to confirm to Nigerians that there were some people who did not have respect for the judgement of the High Court,
“So, we need to show material evidence and that is why we want our members to bring their receipts and there is no two ways about that before we ask for refunds.
“This people believe that Nigeria is a banana republic where there is no law and they extort the masses with impunity which is not acceptable,” he added.
Recall that the Council had in a recent advertorial directed the agents and importers to submit the receipts of their transactions with terminal operators and shipping agencies to the council as a proof that the duo have refused to comply with the High Court ruling where their cases were thrown out.
He however pointed out that at the appropriate time, the association will rise to the occasion.
However, about one thousand five hundred members were given the biometric Identity cards while about the same figure are still under processing which will be due for collection very soon.
In another development, NAGAFF has warned some clearing agents who were in the habit of funding import and export out of Customs control to desist from such as it would amount to meddling with Customs’ procedures.
In a press release last week, the Deputy National President, Seaport, Prince Obums Anene stated that the development was a big threat to the revenue due the government generated in the port through Customs procedures.
“The remote cause and the greatest threat to revenue due to the government in the Custom ports are the concept and practice of funding import and export clearance by the freight agents. It is sad to note that freight agents sit in the comfort of their offices to decide custom duty without facts but rather go about it with untrue declarations for custom purposes”.
He further advised freight agents to be careful in handling and funding any transaction related to cargo clearance out of Customs’ regulations.
“All receipted clearance related to cargo clearance and customs formalities must be paid by the consignee as clearly stated in the import and export guidelines of 2006 extant” he said.
He further tasked all practitioners to ensure that their principals were persuaded to be compliant to import regulations.
