NAGAFF flays attack on compliance team

The Head of 100 per cent Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approval Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Ibrahim Tanko, has accused some officials among government agencies and service providers of waging a campaign of calumny against the team.

NAGAFF had inaugurated the team to monitor compliance level of service providers with the government’s Ease of Doing Business campaign at the ports.

But the team, which visited some recalcitrant service operators to enforce compliance, has come under attacks by some stakeholders who regarded its operations as illegal and a mere posturing.

Tanko, while reacting to such moves, accused some elements in government agencies, terminal operators and bonded terminal operators whom he alleged are corrupt and averred to complying with the rules of engagement, as those behind these attacks.

He vowed that no amount of intimidation and blackmail can deter them as the team remained focused in ensuring that all stakeholders play by the rules.

He disclosed that it was the repeated complaints and accusations by government agencies and terminal operators that freight forwarders are not compliant that made NAGAFF set up the team to self-audit themselves and whip erring members into line.

“The government agencies have asked us to be compliant and play by the rules. That is what we are trying to achieve among our members.

“We have about 40 percent compliance level among our members and hope to get about 50 to 60 per cent by the end of the year. It is a gradual process.” he said.

“We are even organising a three-day seminar for members where we intend to further preach the gospel of compliance to them. After that, we shall focus on government agencies with whom we hope to interact on the issue of compliance for mutual understanding and cooperation.

“We have already written to the relevant ones to this effect. We have even engaged our principals who are the importers to make correct declarations.

“So if we decided to be compliant, the service providers should also be compliant by having the necessary capacity to do the job, by not overcharging us and by getting the necessary equipment,” he said.