The National Association of government approved freight forwarders (NAGAFF) has expressed worry over the continuous seizure of cargoes by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone 'C' of the Nigeria Custom Service in Owerri, Imo State, even as it has called for sensitization of freight forwarders on the need to shun smuggling.
The National Association of government approved freight forwarders (NAGAFF) has expressed worry over the continuous seizure of cargoes by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone 'C' of the Nigeria Custom Service in Owerri, Imo State, even as it has called for sensitization of freight forwarders on the need to shun smuggling.
Reacting to the latest seizure of over N140Million worth of cargoes in Owerri by the customs last week, founder of association; Dr. Boniface Aniebonam in a chat with Shipping Position Daily stated that should the trend continue, traders would soon run out of business.
He said that business men in the state need to be educated on how to comply with import regulations so as not to continue losing their cargoes and money to the customs.
Aniebonam who is also the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) pointed out that the state as well as Anambra State is predominantly international traders and that many freight forwarders engaged in logistics and cargo management come from Anambra state.
“The FOU in Owerri seized goods worth over N140million, who own these goods? To me we need a governor who has to identify with the occupation of the people, and since we are international traders a lot of efforts have to be made in the area of compliance to import regulation". "Therefore there is need for education and enlightenment so that our people will not continue to lose their cargo into the hands of the Nigeria Customs Service" he said
Aniebonam however stressed that the customs has a responsibility to carry out government regulations with regards to seizure of contraband items smuggled into the country.
"But we don't need these, take an entire look at SON, NAFDAC, you will see all the seizures they are making, who told you that we must fake goods or smuggle before we can earn our living? These things are wrong and we need to correct them, we need somebody who has the machinery of the government to educate the people", he canvassed.
"If you talk about investment in Anambra State them we will be looking at what we have, when traders keep losing all these money, then when do we industrialize, it cannot work"
He also called for skilled labour and manpower development in the quest to boost industrialization in the state.
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