By Uzor Odigbo
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), has advocated the need for the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to collaborate in ensuring robust productivity for economic development.
Founder of NAGAFF Dr. Boniface Aniebonam made the plea on Wednesday in Lagos, during a media parley.
Aniebonam stressed that CRFFN operations has made the job easy for customs. There is need to build integrity and the aspect that has to do with collaboration in trading cannot be over emphasized.
“So I look forward to seeing the customs and CRFFN entering most strategic parternership with a view of increasing productivity in the port industry and this is very critical. That should be done as fast as possible.”he added.
Aniebonam reiterated that the process of collaboration among the two agencies of government will further add value and boost revenue collection for the government.
He called on the federal government to review its engagement with neighbouring countries in a bid to reopen the nation’s borders, adding that the the customs has huge roles to play in manning the borders along side sister agencies.
He noted that the borders are porous but stressed the need for the frontiers protection by the relevant government agencies.
Dr . Aniebonam who stated that the association would rally support for the Council to commence collection of the controversial Practitioners Operating Fee (POF), maintained that capacity building most be acquired by young freight forwarders and NAGAFF would support the CRFFN in it’s quest to collect the fee.
The founder also added that CRFFN is not a government agency and the association would continue to seek injunction up to the supreme court to know if the council remains a private or government owned
“The council is a baby of NAGAFF, the council was first introduced to the national assembly by NAGAFF before Nigerian Shippers Council came to our aid.
“The freight forwarding council is for the betterment of the young freight forwarders.”
He also stated that the NAGAFF is working tirelessly to ensure that the academy awards University and Polytechnics certificates pointing out that young freight forwarders most get the training in becoming a professional practitioners