The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NAGAFF

  • Agents raise alarm over quacks in clearing business

    The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has raised the alarm over quacks parading themselves as freight forwarders at the ports.

    It urged the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to sanitise the sector by eliminating the quacks.

    NAGAFF’s Founder Dr Boniface Aniebonam alleged that the quacks were deceiving the public, urging CRFFN to confront them.

    NAGAFF, Aniebonam said, became worried because CRFFN is not playing its role.

    He noted that CRFFN was established to control freight forwarding practice in the country and wondered why the group is not carrying out its responsibilities.

    He said CRFFN is expected to set standards and code of professional practice among practitioners.

    Aniebonam also urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to enforce import and export regulations of government.

    “If such regulations were not enforced, the country’s economy will continue to nosedive into unprecedented poverty,” he added.

    “We also suggest and advise the Customs service and other regulatory agencies of government to adopt the concept of corrective measures, instead of outright seizure of defaulting goods.’’

    He said the nation’s ports and border posts require commercial regulator.

    “The need for a port regulator is key and strategic to our growth and development,” Aniebonam said.

  • NAGAFF faults moves to resolve CRFFN crisis

    The founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr Boniface Aniebonam, has spoken on why the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is in crisis.

    He also faulted the move to revive the CRFFN.

    Aniebonam said the problem with CRFFN was human, adding that sabotage and lack of knowledge by some members of its governing council led to its present predicament.

    He urged the council to create an atmosphere where all stakehold-ers would come together to discuss the future of the body.

    “The problem with CRFFN has to do with human element, sabotage, lack of knowledge, which speaks volumes of the what was their mindset? Those who cut out this concept what do they have in mind?

    “I don’t know the advice they want to give as to the issue of the transport ministry and the council itself, it is most unfortunate but I think that if you look at the midterm report by the minister of transport, you will find out that CRFFN was not mentioned as a parastatal of the transport ministry. This goes a long way to prove that CRFFN is not a parastatal of transport ministry, but under the supervision of the ministry,” he said.

    Aniebonam said efforts to revive CRFFN could only be achieved when the key stakeholders are involved.

  • NAGAFF seeks support for APM terminals

    The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged port users and other stakeholders to appreciate the efforts of terminal operators in promoting port operation and efficiency in the country.

    NAGAFF’s founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, made the call while speaking with reporters in Lagos.

    He decried what he called the pull-him-down attitude of some stakeholders against the terminal operator.

    Aniebonam noted that before the APM Terminals took over operation of the Apapa container terminal in March 2006, there was congestion at the terminal with vessel waiting time averaging 40 days at the port. But, since they took over, he said, the vessels turn- around time has reduced drastically.

    He said the Ghanaian government held talks with the management of the APM Terminals at Apapa port on how to replicate what they are doing to promote port business in their country.

    “I do know that Nigeria is not the only place that they (APM Terminals) are working. I am also aware through my strategic position that even the government of Ghana – because I have the privilege of having a friend who is in the Ghanaian government – came here to hold a meeting with APMT and that has to do with the level of work they are doing here. That means if some people outside Nigeria appreciate them; why can’t we appreciate them?

    “Before APM Terminals took over operation, everywhere was chaotic. No cargo handling equipment, no defined processes and procedures etc. There was also vessel queue with ships waiting for an average of 40 days to get berthing space. Consequently, shipping companies slammed what was called congestion surcharge on the port. The congestion surcharges were paid directly by the importers and this amounted to about $200 million per annum,” he said.

     

  • Furniture, textile, plastics flood Lagos, other ports

    •Freight forwarders petition Minister

    The National Association of Government approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has petitioned the Minister of Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala over the large number of prohibited goods uncleared at the ports.

    It urged the minister to advise the Customs to invoke Section 31 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) to deal with the uncleared cargoes “in the interest of the economy and revenue generation.”

    According to the association, the containers of goods that fall under the prohibition list at the ports are many.

    The freight forwarders asked the Ministry of Finance and the Customs to direct the owners to take delivery of the goods after penalising them.

    An April 2 letter obtained by The Nation, the Founder of the Association, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, said prohibited imported goods such as furniture, textile and plastic materials and others items were congesting the port.

    The goods, Aniebonam said, were not dangerous, but caught under the law meant to protect local manufacturers.

    He wondered why the ministry and Customs could not capitalise on this development to enhance revenue generation.

    Government, NAGAFF said, would be shooting itself in the foot if it sells such goods as auction.

    NAGAFF pleaded for the importers, saying: “We should consider the fact that these importers borrowed from the bank to effect these imports.  It will also help in decongesting the ports and at the same time raise revenue for the government, and above all facilitate trade.

    “In view of the above, there is the urgent need for the Nigeria Customs Service to engage the trading public and the freight agents in a massive culture of trade compliant awareness campaign and education.  This will educate the trading public on why they should obey and respect the import guidelines as well as its enforcement by the government,” the group said.

  • NAGAFF to protest non-refund of container deposits

    The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has warned that unless urgent steps are taken to correct the anomalies being perpetuated against them, the nation risks industrial disharmony and unrest in the maritime sector.

    Its Secretary-General,Increase Uche, said the group’s grouse is the refund of container deposits to importers by shipping companies instead of paying to them who made the deposits.

    The group said it has written to the Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) of the likely implication to the nation if the issue was not sorted out soon.

    Uche said: “We have drawn the attention of the Registrar to the seeming unprofessional conduct and disregard to the relevance of freight agents whose names appeared in the register of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria by the shipping companies. It is a fact that CRFFN under Act 16 of 2007 of the National Assembly has the mandate to regulate and control the freight forwarding agents in Nigeria.

    “It is also a fact that the statutory responsibility of the Act is to protect and enhance professional conduct and practices of the members whose names appeared in the register. It is also a fact that under common contract law the freight forwarders act on behalf of the principals and that explains why non-negotiable import documents are endorsed and entrusted to registered members to act on behalf of the principal.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Freight forwarders accuse minister of interference

    The National Council of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has accused the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar of interferring in the affairs of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

    It said the minister “sees Council as a parastatal under his ministry.”

    In the letter dated January 4, 2013, sighted by The Nation, the NAGAFF founder, Boniface Aniebonam, also stated that the chairman of CRFFN is not an appointee of Mr President as it is in the case of other parastatals, such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Security Agency (NIMASA), the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

    NAGAFF said: “We believe the CRFFN was domiciled in the Transport Ministry in order to give it impetus and necessary protection to meet the desired interest of its establishment. However, recent happenings in the Council suggest that you seem to see the Council as a parasatal of the Transport Ministry, whereas the CRFFN Act has told us that membership of the Council does confer status of public servant on the elected members of the Council.

    “This is why the chairman of the Council must be an elected member whose name is in the register of CRFFN.”

    The power of the Minister to give direction and character to the Council, NAGAFF said, is not absolute. Section 5 of the Act that established the council stipulates the power of the minister in that regard.

    He said the categories of registered members that form the register of freight forwarders are three – individual, corporate and registered associations.These three groups of private membership, he added, are the owners of the CRFFN.

    Consequently, he said any attempt to administer the Council without their mandate or input is a breach of the Act.

    “With the dissolution of the first Council, it is our considered opinion and advice that we now need to run and manage an inclusive Council with a view to achieving set objectives. We, therefore, suggest that while constituting the new interim governing body of the Council, you may draw representatives from the three categories of registered members and a few from government representatives, such as NIMASA, Maritime Academy, Oron and NIWA to form the steering Council with a mandate to organise sustainable election,” he said.

  • NHRC summons NAGAFF over invasion

    The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has appeared before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over an allegation that some military personnel invaded its office in Apapa, Lagos.

    Last week, investigations revealed that some NAGAFF members appeared before the NHRC to give information about the alleged invasion of it’s national headquarters at Apapa, Lagos.

    At the commission’s office, NAGAFF, sources said, alleged that some soldiers invaded its headquarters on the orders of a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, who was then in charge of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) at the Tin Can Island Port.

    Sources at the Commission said NAGAFF through its solicitor, Larry Okonkwo, in a letter entitled: “Invasion of NAGAFF Headquarters Lagos by 13 Unknown Soldiers at Instance of a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) Tincan Island Port, Lagos and Threat of Life of Dr. Boniface and other Officers of NAGAFF,” had petitioned the senior Customs officer over her alleged role in the invasion and subsequent alleged threats to the lives of Aniebonam and other NAGAFF members.

    The Commission said in the invitation letter to NAGAFF, a copy of which was sighted by The Nation, that the request to appear of before the Commission was based on the human rights issue, raised by the NAGAFF’s lawyer.

  • NHRC summons NAGAFF over invasion

    The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has appeared before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over an allegation that some military personnel invaded its office in Apapa, Lagos.

    Last week, investigations revealed that some NAGAFF members appeared before the NHRC to give information about the alleged invasion of it’s national headquarters at Apapa, Lagos.

    At the commission’s office, NAGAFF, sources said, alleged that some soldiers invaded its headquarters on the orders of a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, who was then in charge of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) at the Tin Can Island Port.

    Sources at the Commission said NAGAFF through its solicitor, Larry Okonkwo, in a letter entitled: “Invasion of NAGAFF Headquarters Lagos by 13 Unknown Soldiers at Instance of a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) Tincan Island Port, Lagos and Threat of Life of Dr. Boniface and other Officers of NAGAFF,” had petitioned the senior Customs officer over her alleged role in the invasion and subsequent alleged threats to the lives of Aniebonam and other NAGAFF members.

    The Commission said in the invitation letter to NAGAFF, a copy of which was sighted by The Nation, that the request to appear of before the Commission was based on the human rights issue, raised by the NAGAFF’s lawyer.

  • NAGAFF, traders partner on employment

    The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) is partnering with the National Harmonised Traders Association of Nigeria to create jobs in freight forwarding for youths in the North.

    The Secretary-General of NAGAFF, Mr Increase Uche, disclosed this to The Nation.

    He said the youth are yet to take advantage of job opportunities in northern borders. NAGAFF, in a survey, he said, revealed that youths in the North are not conversant with the opportunities of self-reliance available in the business of freight forwarding and logistics services.

    Uche said the north has border stations approved by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which has the potential to create jobs and boost commerce and trade.

    “There are indications that many Northern youths are not aware that the National Assembly has legislated over the regulation and control of freight forwarding business in Nigeria,’’ he said.

    Uche urged the customs service to assist the freight forwarding associations in their bid to open up trade transactions in the North.