The National Coordinator, 100% Compliance Team of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Tanko has debunked the write up of an online Media in it’s editorial alleging that the Team has been rendered ineffective and in operational due to the reconstitution of Trade Facilitation Committee of NAGAFF.
He said that though the team, responsible for enforcing trade regulations, has faced scrutiny and obstacles, but they remain steadfast in their mission.
Alhaji Tanko who made this statement in a release made available to Maritime Journalists stressed that the reconstitution of NAGAFF’s trade facilitation committee did not diminish the compliance team’s operations, adding that their effectiveness remain intact.
He further explained that the trade facilitation committee existed before the compliance team saying, “It was merely reconstituted following the abysmal failure of the previous one.Our duties and functions were clearly spelt out by the NAGAFF high Command.”
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“Despite misgivings and calls for disbandment, the compliance team remains resolute. Their mandate, clearly outlined by NAGAFF’s high command, drives their actions.
“We had to lie low to see if the challenges confronting us in the industry could be challenged,and tackled any other way! But alas, no action and no action! and everyone is now asking,’ what became of the compliance Team’?
The team is intact and about to stage a big comeback.
“Right now, we are preparing grounds for a suit against NAFDAC for collecting samples and never returning them to the owners, after ostensibly carrying out tests on the items”, he stated.
According to the Compliance Team Boss, the group is presently engaging the APMT management over the activities of their overzealous security personnel who seize samples of items taken from the examination bay, pack them in their offices in heaps and cartons.
“They never returned the containers, nor the offending perpetrators apprehended or handed over to the police for prosecutions.
We want answers to what happens to the confiscated items.
“Why hasn’t anyone tackled the man made obstacles to the operations at the Scanning site? How come the original design of operations there were jettisoned? Why is the examination platform erected for scanning operations not in use? The compliance team is gearing up for significant actions:
Alhaji Tanko expressed concerns over the developments and alleged APMT’s deliberate strategy to undermine government trade facilitation as well as shortchange the agents, by refusing them the use of their own trucks for delivery ,which benefits the terminal operator financially.
Dr Tanko who affirmed that NAGAFF’s 100% Compliance Team remains vigilant, fighting for efficient trade practices and security, assured that by next week, the ‘Team’ will convene to reaffirm their dedication to sustainable freight forwarding.
“I see obstacles as ” blood tonic”, an elixir that propels me into actions that seemed insurmountable.
By next week, the full complement of the compliance Team will be meeting in a show of resilience and commitment to the ideals of the team.
We are not in competition with anyone else,but resolute in fighting off impediments to sustainable freight forwarding”, he opined. It would be recalled that an online publication in it’s editorial recently captioned,”
NAGAFF’s MONUMENTAL MISTAKE WAS TO WHITTLE AWAY THE RELEVANCE OF IT’S 100% COMPLIANCE TEAM”, the editorial warned that any attempt by the NAGAFF authorities to disband or dissolve the 100% Compliance Team which has performed creditably well overtime,would not only be counter productive ,but would also do serious damage to the credibility and integrity of the NAGAFF
“Therefore, the leadership of NAGAFF must as a matter of urgency, resuscitate its 100% Compliance Team to bridge the leadership gap. There is no room for a series of meetings before taking a bold step in the right direction, and that bold step is to collapse the parallel Team and subsume it into a more active 100% Compliance Team with or without Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko as its Head” the editorial concluded.
