Business

“NAGAFF 100% compliance does not harass anybody -Tanko says

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), 100% Compliance Team has dismissed misunderstanding with any member of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

The compliance team also denied any form of intimidation and harassment on officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) since commencement of its monitoring of members’ and importers’ activities in the port.

National Coordinator of the NAGAFF Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko on Monday stated that the compliance team had come to stay hence stakeholders must be transparent in their business dealings.

Tanko disclosed that the team had entered into agreement with members of ANLCA to streamline Taskforce operations adding that “Since the beginning of the compliance team, we have never confronted or attacked any Customs officer or staff of any government agencies.

“What we are doing currently is between importers and our members; telling them to do the right thing in the clearance of good.

“We did not accuse any customs officer of doing anything wrong and I challenge anybody to come out to tell us those officers or personnel of government agencies we have harassed.

According to him, the petition written by John Ofobike, a chieftain of ANLCA and addressed to the Controller, Apapa Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service, was illegal alleging that he has been suspended from the association.

The Ofobike’s letter dated 8th December 2020, had alleged incessant demand for job favour, intimidation, harassment and blackmail by the 100% Compliance Team of NAGAFF led by the Coordinator .

While reacting to the letter to newsmen, Tanko reiterated that the ANLCA stalwart might be dragged to court for the usage of the association’s letter head because he is no longer a member.

Tanko who also doubles as the Vice President, Western Ports stressed that the letter originated by the ex- Chairman of Apapa Chapter of ANLCA, was subjected to ridicule even in the eyes of customs officers.

He also noted that the Compliance Team was aimed to ensure that port users do the needful to acceleration to trade facilitation and faster clearance of cargoes from the ports.