NAGAFF Decries Increase in ‘Alerts’ Placed on Cargoes

By ZION Olalekan |

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has raised an alarm over the rising complaints from its members with regard to multiple trade alerts of the various Government agencies assigned to the Nigerian ports over a single transaction.

The office of the Special Duty Officer of NAGAFF Headquarters, Mr. Emmanuel Agubanze in a statement to Nigeriamaritime360.com said that bthe association recently carried out a systems audit of the various complaints with a view to ascertaining the true position of those complaints.

The association however said it has discovered that there is indeed multiple trade alerts over a single transaction in the Customs ports on trade goods.

Agubanze however insisted on the need for Government to harmonize its relevance in ports operation with regard to trade alerts, even as he advised Shippers and Freight practitioners should at all times endeavor to be compliant to import and export regulations of the Government.

“Areas of concern include, but not limited to, Nigeria Customs, NAFDAC, SON, Nigerian Police, NESREA and NDLEA. It is to the understanding of NAGAFF that trade alerts are basically placed on goods with an intent to draw the attention of the operatives where there is a case of reasonable suspicion that the interest of the Government and the public are under threat”

“Unfortunately this simple trade advice has become a source of extortion and avoidable breaches of the policy of ease of doing business in the Customs ports. It is the opinion of NAGAFF that Government should, as a matter of urgency, intervene with a view to harmonizing the application of trade alerts in line with the policy of ease of doing business in our ports”

“It is known to NAGAFF that the remote cause of trade alerts is based on non-compliance attitude of shippers in making genuine and correct declaration of export and import goods for Customs purposes and other related regulations concerning standards and quality assurances of goods imported/exported”

“Under the circumstances and situations in we have found ourselves, the way out of the wood shall mean that every stakeholder and Government agencies should be patriotic and professional in their conducts”

“We in NAGAFF are strongly holding the belief that blackmail and/or witch-hunting ourselves may not resolve this matter except if all concerned decide to play by the rule. In the opinion of NAGAFF, the essence of legislation and regulations is to ensure orderliness and competitiveness in our trade transactions” he said