By Sandra Chukwunyere
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant a one-year tenure extension to senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) scheduled to retire in December 2026.
The association said the extension would prevent the mass exit of seasoned management officers, preserve institutional experience and give younger officers time to prepare for leadership responsibilities.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary General of NAGAFF, Mr Godfrey Nwosu, in Lagos on Wednesday, the appeal was contained in an open letter to the President titled, “The Matter of Mass Due Retirement of Seasoned Management Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).”
NAGAFF described the Customs Service as a strategic institution in the implementation of Nigeria’s fiscal policies on trade matters and expressed concern that the simultaneous retirement of experienced management officers could affect the country’s efforts to strengthen trade administration.
The association acknowledged the efforts of the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team in assigning younger officers to strategic positions, but said a one-year extension would help stabilise the transition and prepare the younger officers for emerging challenges in international trade.
It noted that younger officers were willing and prepared to take on greater responsibilities at the appropriate time, stressing the importance of allowing them to benefit from the experience of their senior colleagues before retirement.
NAGAFF also raised concerns over the influx of fake and adulterated products into the country, which it linked to lapses in the implementation of the National Single Window platform.
According to the association, agencies including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) have been denied their statutory responsibilities, a situation it said has contributed to Nigeria becoming a dumping ground for fake products from Asian countries.
The association said the Customs Service was working to address the situation and noted its long-established relationship with freight forwarding practitioners as a critical component of trade operations.
NAGAFF also commended President Tinubu for ending the petroleum subsidy regime, expressing support for his efforts to revive the Nigerian economy.
“We know that when you pursue corruption, the return is that corruption shall pursue you. Remain strong at heart in the interest of Nigerians,” the association stated in the letter.
NAGAFF described itself as the umbrella body for freight forwarding practitioners and said its members across the country support the President’s efforts to revive the economy.
The letter was copied to the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; the President of the Senate; and the Comptroller-General of Customs.
