The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has appealed to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, to intervene in the release of eight buses allocated to its academy through the Customs auction process.
The association said it had completed payment and other necessary processing for the vehicles but was unable to take physical possession of any of them after visiting the ports where the buses were expected to be located.
Founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, made the appeal while expressing concern over what he described as a disturbing experience involving the auctioned vehicles, which were intended to support training and welfare activities at the NAGAFF Academy.
Aniebonam said it was surprising that the association could complete the required procedures and payment for the vehicles but could not locate them physically at the ports.
He explained that NAGAFF originally applied for 41 vehicles for use across its various formations nationwide, including its chapters in Kebbi, Sokoto and other locations, but was eventually allocated eight buses.
According to him, the association accepted the allocation and proceeded with payment and other required procedures, only to discover that the vehicles could not be found at the ports.
He said, “We applied for 41 vehicles, cutting across our chapters in Kebbi, Sokoto and other places. We were given eight. For those eight, we paid, we processed everything, and got to the port, but we could not find even one physically.”
The NAGAFF founder said the development had placed the association in a difficult position, with funds already committed to the auctioned vehicles now tied up.
“Right now, we have paid and our money is stuck. If we had known, we wouldn’t have applied in the first instance, only to continue struggling in our usual manner.”
Aniebonam stressed that the buses were not intended for the personal use of NAGAFF officials or members, but to support the operations of the NAGAFF Academy, particularly the transportation of students and lecturers, logistics for training activities and other ancillary needs.
He therefore called on the Customs management to investigate the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and facilitate a resolution of the matter.
“NAGAFF and Customs are very close and responsible partners. This relationship dates back to 1999. It is our hope and belief that CGC Adeniyi will take a personal interest in the matter and find out what happened,” he said.
Aniebonam also linked the matter to the importance of strengthening the capacity of young freight forwarders, arguing that investment in education and professional training would complement the ongoing transformation within the Customs Service and benefit the wider maritime sector.
He said the NAGAFF Academy had an important role to play in preparing young freight forwarders for the evolving customs and trade environment.
“If Adeniyi does not participate in assisting and educating these young freight forwarders, all his reforms may be like building a castle on sand,” Dr Aniebonam stated.
He urged the Customs management to urgently examine the circumstances surrounding the delay and work with relevant stakeholders to resolve the matter.
According to him, the release of the eight buses would strengthen the capacity of the NAGAFF Academy to provide training and logistical support for the next generation of freight forwarding professionals.
