- National Coordinator, NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team, Ibrahim Tanko
By Anthony Nwachukwu
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG), Tariffs and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, for her dedication to trade facilitation.
This followed what the NAGAFF 100 per cent Compliance Team described as her swift response to industry complaints and effective resolution strategies, noting that her methods are significantly beneficial to the broader industry.
In a statement against the backdrop of speculations that private companies might soon take over the NCS’ traditional role of revenue collection, the team’s National Coordinator, Ibrahim Tanko, assured Niagwan of NAGAFF’s unwavering support, while urging her to remain steadfast in her efforts.
According to NAGAFF, the companies claim they can exceed the service’s annual revenue targets by up to 300 per cent in the first year, with plans to increase the margin subsequently.
Restating opposition to the rumoured takeover, however, NAGAFF stated that the current leadership of the NCS is capable of handling revenue collection, adding that its current successes are due to the innovative measures and strategies implemented by the tariffs and trade unit.
“We in the field can testify to the increased revenue accruing to the Federal Government since the new management took over,” the statement read. “This road had been travelled with PIDA; the sour taste has lingered up till now.
“The attendant delays arising from ignorance of customs’ procedures and processes caused a lot of disquiet back then. Officers’ morale was dampened and their professional integrity compromised.
“We therefore reject the idea and wish the DCG well in her efforts at improving the revenue collection task of the Nigerian Customs Service.”
