NAGAFF Pick Holes In Allegation Of Blackmailing Customs Officers

In the mudslinging face-off between the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the former has reacted to allegations of blackmail by the rival group

NAGAFF through its National Publicity Secretary Mr. Stanley Ezenga, in a release made public, accused ANLCA of sycophancy, eye service and attempting to curry favors from the Comptroller General of Customs CGC Hameed Ali.

NAGAFF further accused ANLCA of using every opportunity to discredit the immediate past CGC, Abdullahi Dikko, despite that he allegedly facilitated theconstruction of a National Secretariat for them, when the National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Mr. Kayode Farinto was quoted that “corruption has reduced among Customs officers, compared to the era of the immediate past Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko.”

Regarding the truncated public hearing NAGAFF said, “We accepted the invitation of the immediate past CAC, Tincan Island Alhaji Jibrin Zakari to present our evidences against the officers accused by our members and other stakeholders in the industry. This was to help the Customs correct some anomalies discovered in some Customs officers in discharging their duties.  We postponed the public hearing in deference to the then CAC and in the spirit of the rapport between our association and Customs.  We decided to leave the matter to the then CAC, as he implored us.

“We believe the only way by which we can help the new CGC, Rtd Col. Hameed Ali and by extension, the President, Muhammadu Buhari is by pointing out  potential obstacles to the realization of his mandate to reform, to reposition and enhance revenue at the Customs.” The group added.

NAGAFF called on all patriotic Nigerian to be collectively involved in fighting the war against corruption, adding that this should not be left at the door steps of Mr. President and heads of government agencies alone.