By Sandra Chukwunyere
The founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam has reaffirmed, NAGAFF’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law, maintaining high ethical standards, and collaborating with government agencies to ensure compliance and peace within Nigeria’s port system.
This commitment was made at the re-commissioning of the NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team in Apapa, Lagos recently. The re-commissioning ceremony marked a significant milestone in NAGAFF’s efforts to promote professionalism and compliance in the freight forwarding industry.
Aniebonam described NAGAFF as the largest organisation in the freight forwarding industry and a key partner to the government in ensuring order and professionalism at the ports. Aniebonam emphasized that compliance must be carried out within legal limits, stressing that the team is not an armed unit but derives its authority from existing laws and collaboration with statutory agencies.
He also cautioned members against rights violations, urging them to engage in dialogue, observation, reporting, and lawful enforcement activities. He commended the National President of NAGAFF, Alhaji Tanko Musa, and other leaders for their commitment and personal sacrifices toward the association’s growth.
Furthermore, Aniebonam reiterated NAGAFF’s long-standing push for professionalism in freight forwarding, recalling its role in the establishment of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
The National President of NAGAFF, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, described the Compliance Team as one of the most transformative initiatives in the association’s history. He noted that the team, first inaugurated in 2020, emerged at a time when the freight forwarding industry was grappling with compliance gaps, procedural inconsistencies, and practices that undermined trust and operational efficiency.
Ezisi emphasized that the team’s activities have significantly raised regulatory compliance levels among freight forwarders nationwide, reduced infractions, and strengthened collaboration with government agencies. He outlined five strategic targets for the Compliance Team in the new phase, including full digital compliance integration, a 60% reduction in compliance infractions within two years, strengthened collaboration with regulatory agencies, and the establishment of a national compliance intelligence network.
NAGAFF President also emphasized the need to build a strong culture of ethical leadership within the freight forwarding profession, noting that compliance goes beyond rules to reflect core values.
In his part,the National Coordinator of the Compliance Team, Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko warned that NAGAFF would no longer tolerate individuals exploiting freight forwarders through illegal practices. Tanko emphasized that the leadership of the association, including the board, national president, and founder, is united in defending members while insisting on lawful conduct.
Tanko also announced new training programs and international partnerships aimed at improving members’ understanding of customs classification, contraband identification, and compliance procedures. He revealed plans to introduce a digital identification and tracking system to improve transparency and accountability among members.
He also cautioned freight forwarders against clearing consignments without proper declaration, noting that agents are often used as scapegoats in drug and arms smuggling cases. Furthermore, Tanko emphasized that future petitions will be evidence-based and pursued to logical conclusions, stressing that arrest must follow after a petition is made.
The re-commissioning ceremony was attended by NAGAFF chieftains, including members of the board, chapter ex-executives, stakeholders, the media, and representatives of the maritime Police. The event marked a new era for NAGAFF’s Compliance Team, with a renewed focus on promoting compliance, transparency, and accountability in the freight forwarding industry.
In his remarks, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, who is also founder, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), dismissed internal disputes within NNPP as distractions and expressed confidence in efforts to stabilise the party. At 72, he said NAGAFF remains sustainable beyond his leadership, urging members to remain hopeful and committed to ethical conduct.
The National Secretary of the association, Mr Godfrey Nwosu highlighted that NAGAFF Compliance Team’s recommissioning has significant implications for the freight forwarding industry, as it signals a renewed commitment to promoting compliance, transparency, and accountability. The team’s activities are expected to contribute to improved revenue assurance for the federal government and enhanced NAGAFF’s reputation as a responsible and forward-thinking industry body.
Newspoints247 resports that the event concluded with a call to action for all NAGAFF members to support the Compliance Team and embrace compliance as a collective responsibility critical to the future of the maritime industry.
