By Sylva OBASI
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has raised an alarm while also appealing to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir ADEWALE ADENIYI to intervene and facilitate the release of eight auction buses allocated to its academy, saying the vehicles got missing in customs custody after the association has completed payment and all necessary processes to take delivery of the buses.
The founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam made this revelation and appeal while expressing concern over the situation to journalists recently in Lagos.
According to him,”It is surprising to note our experience in taking possession of the vehicles, which were auction allocation to support the training and welfare of students at the NAGAFF Academy.
“We failed to take delivery of those buses and it’s our hope and concern that CGC Adeniyi should investigate over this shameful experience in the customs ports”.
Speaking further, Aniebonam explained that the association had originally applied for 41 vehicles for use across its various formations nationwide, but was eventually allocated eight buses.
He said NAGAFF accepted the allocation and proceeded with payment and other required procedures, but unfortunately, the vehicles were not found at the ports when NAGAFF came to take delivery, prompting the association to seek the intervention of the Customs leadership to resolve whatever issues may be responsible for the urgly experience.
He said, “We applied for 41 vehicles, cutting across Chapters, Kebbi, Sokoto and all others. We were given eight. That eight, we paid, we processed, we got to the port, but we could not get to see even one physically.”
The NAGAFF founder said this avoidable circumstances had placed the association in a difficult position, as funds had already been committed to the missing auctioned vehicles .
“Right now, we have paid and our money is stuck. If we knew, we wouldn’t have applied in the first instance and continue to struggle in our usual manner”, Aniebonam lamented.
The NAGAFF Founder stressed that the buses were not meant for the personal use of NAGAFF officials or members, but were intended to support the academy, particularly in transporting students, lecturers, providing logistics for training activities and other ancillaries thereto.
He therefore appealed to the Comptroller-General of Customs to look into the matter and help resolve it while stressing that NAGAFF and the Customs Service have maintained a cordial relationship.
“NAGAFF and Customs are very close, responsible partners dated since 1999. It is our hope and belief that CGC Adeniyi shall take interest personally to know what happened, he said.
Aniebonam also linked the support for the NAGAFF Academy to the success of ongoing reforms in the Customs Service, arguing that education is essential and strategic to the capacity of the young freight forwarders under the emerging customs transformation.
He said investment in the training of young freight forwarders would ultimately benefit the Customs Service directly and the wider maritime sector.
“If Adeniyi don’t participate to assist and educate these young freight forwarders, all his reforms may be like building a castle on a shifting sand,” Dr aniebonam insisted .
He urged the Customs management to urgently examine the circumstances surrounding the delay and work with relevant stakeholders to resolve the matter, stressing that the release of the buses would strengthen the academy’s capacity to train the next generation of freight forwarders.
