The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has inaugurated an anti-corruption committee to checkmate the Nigeria Customs Service as part measures to address corruption in the nation's ports operation.
NAGAFF said that since givers and receivers of bribes are culpable, it is imperative to create a committee to monitor both Customs officers and licensed customs agents.
The new committee was unveiled yesterday at the inauguration of a 41-member national executive council to oversee affairs for the association.
While the national executive council is headed by Chief Eugene Nweke, the association announced the appointment of Mr. Increase Uche as head the national committee on anti-corruption, while Comrade Stephen Ibe is the vice chairman of the committee.
In his remarks after the inauguration of the new executives of the association, its national president, Nweke urged members of the association to be transparent when dealing with the customs, saying that the Comptroller General of Customs is serious about jailing erring officers and agents who are found culpable.
Nweke admitted that the nation's ports are characterised by bribery and corruption, saying that the abuses necessitated the establishment of an anti-corruption committee to checkmate the customs and the freight agents.
He said, the old order of freight forwarding business has changed, he charged the new executives to be pro-active.
He said "you should know that it is not business as usual with customs ”
"The new CGC came with three missions which talked about reform, restructure and to collect more revenue for customs"
"I want to sound this as a warning, anyone of you who claim to under estimate the CGC should better wake up ".
Also speaking, founder of the association; Dr Boniface Aniebonam urged members of the association to fly the flag of NAGAFF with their statutory responsibilities, saying that the new executives are serious to move up in the northern borders.
He said that the association is expanding to the north aggressively; noting that there is need for members to understand that the licensing regulation of customs does not add value to freight forwarding operations.
He urged all members of the association to be pro-active in their operations, adding that the new executives must undergo a two days course on leadership training from the current national President of NAGAFF.
"The task ahead is enormous, though we are cruising as an association, but you all have a lot job to do"
"Those of you who are coming to leadership should be mindful that the president is powerful because there must be discipline among yourself", he stated.
Aniebonam however urged the new executives to be hardworking to move the association forward, urging them to assist other members and also make sacrifice for and on behalf of others
He however expressed satisfaction with the calibre of persons who were appointed to serve the association.
Discussion about this post