The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged the Federal Operating Unit (FOU) Zone ’A of the Nigeria Customs Service to move out and engage stakeholders in their domain with a view to enlightening and educating them more on matters in relation to customs formalities and ancillary functions.
The association made this call yesterday in Lagos when its leaders led by their national president; Chief Increase Uche, paid a working visit to the unit.
Speaking during the visit, Chief Uche said that the need to create awareness of the statutory functions of the service can never be emphasized.
He also maintained that when people are well educated and informed, it reduces avoidable conflicts and misunderstanding.
"Our visit to your office today is to further strengthen the existing mutual relationship between us and the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service. We appreciate the strategic role of the service in our operation, especially in revenue and international trade related matters. This visit becomes necessary in view of the Presidential Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business", h said.
Meanwhile the Comptroller Federal Operating Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, has called for cooperation with the association in to protect government revenues even as he said that they will not succeed if there is no cooperation with the relevant associations in the industry.
He also said that he has met with the bonded terminal operators and that Customs have set its search light on the bonded terminals.
He also maintained that the only way to achieve success is by dialoguing.
"We are not going to fight, but only dialogue for a better tomorrow. That the officers are customs officers does not mean they know more than you. We only implement government policies we don't make policies. I must say that I am very happy with NAGAFF, they have educated people and they have gone far", he told the NAGAFF leaders.
He also applauded NAGAFF for setting up academy where freight forwarders are properly trained and educated.
"Because NAGAFF is focused, they have set up academy to train practitioners. The association knows where they are going" he concluded.
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