The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called for attitudinal change among the teeming populace of Nigerian towards the way things are done in the country.
Speaking specifically on the need for maritime stakeholders to adhere to the principles of importation and exportation, Dr. Boniface. Aniebonam, Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) said the change the people wanted could not come without change of attitude.
He said, “Whereas the greater numbers of the Nigerian people have voted for change in Nigeria, there is the need for attitudinal change in the way and manner we do things in our country.
“The change in Nigeria is not about President
Mohammadu Buhari but the will of the Nigerian people to abide by the rule of law and orders in Nigeria. To build a greater Nigeria and society, there is the urgent need for the agents of the Government to enforce lawful orders and regulations of the Government of Nigeria.
“The Government on its own must strive to uphold the law using the instrument of constitutional provisions and established platforms rather than the use of adhoc committees in the administration of state affairs.
He therefore maintained that for the objectives to be realisable, the government has to review the welfare package of its workers as well as the law enforcement agents.
“It is the road map to stem the tide of corruption in Nigeria. The Government on its own must strive to create wealth for the good of the greater numbers of the Nigeria people. The Nigerian people must be made to become productive to add value to nation building.
“In this regard, the freight forwarding practitioners of Nigeria operating
at the gateways of the Nigerian economy are hereby called to duty as first Nigerians to advance the course of best practices and respect for the rule of law and order.
“We therefore call all freight forwarders of Nigeria to take responsibility of leading by example in all our approved international routes.
“To achieve this, we must be compliant to import and export regulations by making genuine declarations of imports and exports in Nigeria for Customs purposes. When freight agents become compliant to import and export
regulations, the resultant effect shall include but not limited to increased revenue earning to the Government, discouraging importation of
sub standard and fake products into Nigeria and all other matters related to untrue declaration for Customs purposes,” he said.
Aniebonam, who is also the National Chairman of New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), added that it is time for Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to harmonise CEMA and CRFFN Act in the freight forwarding practice in Nigeria.
“Whereas the CRFFN Act seeks to encourage professionalism, the CEMA should lend support to it to achieve the concept of best practices. The two leading freight and licensed Customs agents associations in Nigeria
(NAGAFF & ANLCA) with other sister associations must close ranks and work
together for the common good of all concerned in our international trade.
“We must therefore join hands with the new administration, Nigeria Customs Service and other related agencies of the Government at our entry points to achieve the set objectives of competitiveness, friendly and efficient ports operations in Nigeria,” he stated.
