Maritime
NAGAFF Commends Govt’s Anti-Smuggling Crusade
There are clear indications that the Nigeria Customs Service and other regulatory agencies of the government have intensified anti-smuggling operations and the fight against sub-standard, fake and adulterated products imported into the country.
The founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, made the disclosure in Lagos in a chat with our correspondent recently.
While commending the efforts of government agencies, Dr. Aniebonam, also draw the attention of the trading public to respect import and export regulations of the government.
“It is our considered opinion that this unwholesome breach of import guidelines has to stop because the losses are not in anyway helping the economy of Nigeria. We cannot continue to enrich other nations to the detriment of the Nigerian economy”, Aniebonam said.
He hinted that the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) are greatly worried because the relevance of the council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is not playing the expected role to justify its establishment.
According to him, CRFFN as a regulatory agency domiciled in the transport ministry is expected to control freight forwarding practice in Nigeria, adding that it is expected to set standard and code of professional practice among the practitioners.
“The trading public in the country is being deceived by quacks parading themselves as freight forwarders. It is the duty of Freight agents to guide, enlighten, educate and carry out other functions in relation to cross border trade, in line with trade policies of Nigeria. The situation on ground is that the trading public is unduly assured of thriving in illegality in our international trade,” Aniebonam said.
On the contrary, NAGAFF founder posited that “there is the apparent loss of investment by the trading public in the hands of customs and other regulatory agencies of the government.
He further explained that, it is a mandate on the part of Customs and other regulatory agencies of the government to enforce import and export regulations of the government which must not be compromised.
“Such government agencies however bask in jubilation of wining anti-smuggling war, but on the contrary, the country’s economy is nose-diving into unprecedented poverty,” he posited.
The association posited that it is important that the coordinating minister of the economy doubling as the finance minister steps forward to factor the informal sector group of the economy.
“We must get them organized very fast to realign the economy of Nigeria on the right party.”
NAGAFF, the umbrella body of freight forwarders stated that the ports and border trade require an urgent attention in favour of Nigeria cross border trade. The need for a port regulator is key and strategic to our growth and development, NAGAFF added.
“We shall therefore call the attention of the coordinating minister of the economy, the transport minster and national planning to invoke section 5 (1) (a) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic to transmute Nigeria shippers council to port regulator immediately to address to unending problems in our gate ways.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.
