The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called for deeper cooperation, compliance and stakeholder synergy among freight forwarders to boost Nigeria’s economy and streamline operations in the Apapa port ecosystem.
The Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Dr Babatunde Olomu, made this appeal yesterday during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in Apapa, Lagos.
Olomu emphasised the importance of robust stakeholder engagement and compliance, noting that such collaboration had enabled the command to generate over N1.38 trillion in revenue in the first half of 2025.
He attributed the Apapa command’s strong revenue performance to the support and cooperation of stakeholders like NAGAFF, while urging members to uphold sincere declarations, avoid shortcuts and prioritise their health.
“Our success at the ports depends on you as credible freight forwarders. We must uphold compliance, due diligence, and global best practices,” he stated.
Olomu, who assumed office in May 2024, commended NAGAFF for its professionalism and commitment to capacity building, describing the association’s training academy as “a loud statement of its commitment to developing freight forwarding in Nigeria”.
In his response, NAGAFF founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, praised the current leadership of the Apapa Customs Command for restoring professionalism in port operations.
He noted that previous issues such as post-clearance interceptions and conflicting examinations had significantly declined since Olomu assumed office.
“I can authoritatively tell you that the unprofessional conduct of re-checking cleared consignments has reasonably ceased. That is why revenue is improving,” Aniebonam said.
He cautioned freight forwarders against circumventing customs examination procedures and warned against making false declarations or relying on shortcuts.
Citing a cautionary tale, Aniebonam narrated how an agent unknowingly used his company’s name to clear a container that contained a firearm, an incident that led to police involvement and the disappearance of the actual importer.
He also appealed to Olomu to assign a liaison officer to NAGAFF to facilitate the timely resolution of member complaints, stressing the importance of internal dispute resolution over external confrontations.
Also speaking, the President of NAGAFF, Tochukwu Ezisi, assured the Customs Controller of the association’s continued commitment to responsible advocacy and constructive dialogue aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business while safeguarding national interests.
