Photo: Bert Okeke, Secretary, NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team
By Precious. N.
Reactions have continued to trail in over the unfounded allegations against the National Chairman of NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team , Alhaji Tanko by a former chieftain of ANLCA, Chief Alfred Oforbike.
Oforbike, former Leader of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) in the Western Zone, had in an interview with journalists called for the arrest and on the police and prosecution of the National Chairman of 100% Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko for accusing some unscrupulous customs valuation officers of conniving with freight forwarders to perpetrate fraud in clearance of vehicles.
In his swift reaction, a seasoned freight forwarder and an analyst, Fwdr Bert Okeke who frowned at the statement credited to Chief Oforbike said Alhaji Tanko gave honest assessment of the situation as it were.
Fwdr. Okeke who is the Secretary of the Compliance Team and chief of staff to the National Chairman in a release in Lagos said National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) stands for sustainable freight forwarding practice and anything short of that is unacceptable to the Team.
He pointed out that Alhaji Tanko is following the footsteps of the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam who is the advocate for total compliance to trade rules which include honest documentation, honest declarations, payment of exact Custom duty by importers and freight forwarders.
This, Bert said, the association has been trying to achieve through the 100% Compliance Team inorder to make room for trade facilitation.
The Compliance Team scribe regretted that despite all the sensitisation and warning of its consequences, some freight forwarders have continued to cut corners to gain undue advantage financially and at same time, deprive the federal government of the expected revenue.
He maintained that it is only men of goodwill and clean hands will support the efforts of NAGAFF chieftain, Alhaji Tanko, adding that no amount of blackmail from his detractors that could stop him from protecting the interest of honest freight forwarders, promoting trade as well as supporting the revenue drive of Customs.
“Reading through the interview granted by Chief Alfred Oforbike to faceless news outlet, one us compelled to react in the interest of fairness.
“For the records, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko gave an honest assessment of the situation as it were. At no time and place did he paint every industry player with the same tar.
“You cannot deny that some freight forwarders cut corners to gain undue advantage financially. Chief Oforbike and his likes could bury their heads in the sand if they deny that such practices exist in freight forwarding”, he concluded.
Fwdr. Bert insisted that the right thing should be done by freight forwarders in order to avoid delays and seizures of cargoes.
