The Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has advised importers to shun vehicle smuggling and insist on importation into the country through approved routes.
Anieboinam, who made this appeal in a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week, also called on importers to respect the policies of the government, adding that smugglers should be made to face the consequences.
“First of all, let us look at the sovereign state Nigeria, this is a sovereign state and if the government comes out with a policy you have to abide by it. You also need to understand that cargo destination is defined and if that is the case those who other than coming though the approved ports as designed by the customs and decides to smuggle they will face the consequences, we should not mix issues”, he stated.
He also charged importers to follow the appropriate channel in expressing themselves when it comes to issues of high duty, instead of taking to smuggling.
“If there are issues of high duty, there is a channel to follow that and it is not enough for us to go contrary to the law. Look at Nigeria today we don’t respect the law that is why the society is like that. I don’t want us to be mixing issues if you are a smuggler you are a smuggler if you are not coming through the customs approved routes so be it. If you are not happy with the duty payable follow the channel to complain to the government. So I wouldn’t like us bring inn sentiments to the extent that cargo is being diverted and that. When you decide to divert your cargo you know the consequences.
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