The founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Aniebonam Boniface has given reasons the 100% Compliance team of the association must remain despite opposition from several quarters.
Speaking at a press briefing at its headquarters on Tuesday, the founder of NAGAFF said the compliance was created to add value to business at the nation's seaports.
While stating that the NAGFF 100% Compliance team was not set up to witch hunt any government agency or anybody, he emphasized that it was set up for the purpose of ensuring that all operators in the industry comply with the rules and guidelines for international trade at the nation's seaports, airports and other entry points.
He explained that by doing so, government agencies would be able to deliver on their mandates while ensuring that shippers and freight forwarders imbibe the culture of doing the right thing.
Addressing question on whether NAGAFF has the power to set up a Compliance team, he argued that the right of the association to set up a Compliance team was not in doubt because it relied on the constitution of Nigeria to do so.
He stated that NAGAFF is also duly registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and it also duly registered by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), which is the body in charge of regulating and controlling of freight forwarders in the country.
He explained that by the constitution of Nigeria, NAGAFF as an association has the right to set up compliance team and operate in the port, while stating that the only thing that the compliance team cannot do is to prosecute.
Aniebonam emphasised that the compliance team is to assist Customs in ensuring its mandates in the area of collection of government revenue and accounting and as well protect the business of their clients.
He said, "it is the same law that gave right to the operations of the Customs and that of license Customs agents and nobody can separate them.
" Anybody who wants to separate Customs and license agents has to go back to National Assembly to do so.
"We both have access to the ports. It is a simple argument so setting up a Compliance team is still an effort of NAGAFF to compliment the efforts of Customs in ensuring it's mandates in the area of collection of government revenue and accounting,
