The over One Trillion Naira revenue generated into the coffers of the federal government by the Nigeria Customs Service from January to November, 2018 has been made possible by sincere cargo document declarations by customs agents, says the Founder of Oodua Descendants Freight Forwarders Association (ODFFA), Prince Segun Adefioye.
Adefioye, who is the Vice Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), PTML Chapter, declared that the revenue feat was not realisable without customs agents’ cooperation and Customs should not claim the glory alone. He therefore canvassed for payment of a commission by the Nigeria Customs Service to customs agents based on individual agent’s duty profile.
The Founder of ODFFA stated this in a media chat in Lagos during the 2018 end of the year party of the association and awards presentation to some distinguished personalities in freight forwarding industry.
According to him, ‘’Nigeria Customs cannot perform the revenue feat without genuine declarations by freight forwarders. It is due to our sincerity. We deserve a commission on all duties we collect annually. We have been agitating for it. Now that the Governing Board of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding (CRFFN) has been put in place, it is our prayer that the board will be stable and settle down to resolve the commission payment and other issues surrounding the Professional Operating Fees.’’
On the entry pass at PTML port, Adefioye noted that the entry pass has become a clog to effective cargo operations by customs agents as it denies them entry into the port. He maintained that NAGAFF headquarters has taken actions to court to fight the case to a logical conclusion. ‘’The issue is ongoing and NAGAFF headquarters has taken the matter to the court for the cancellation of the pass.’’
On PTML management citing restriction of touting and container broaching as the reasons for the issuance of the pass, Adefioye said the reason was not genuine as there was no report of touting before and after the issuance, saying that in other terminals where such pass was not introduced, there was no case of touting or container broaching.
Speaking on the reason for the formation of the Oodua Descendant Freight Forwarders Association, a socio-cultural group of Yoruba professional in freight forwarding, Adefioye blamed Chief Oye Ariyo, Chairman of Oodua Maritime Forum, for trivialising the Forum and making it an appendage of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and thus denied any Yoruba freight forwarder who is not a member of ANLCA membership of the Forum.
He said that as one of the pioneer members of the Forum he was treated unjustly by denying his membership by Chief Oye Ariyo and other leaders because he left ANLCA for NAGAFF which, he said, prompted him to form the Oodua Descendant Freight Forwarders Association.
According to him, ODFFA would not only to correct the injustice done to him but it would provide a veritable platform for all Yoruba professionals in the industry who may face the similar maltreatment in future. He however advocated the unification of all Yoruba socio-cultural groups in the industry.
On the awards presentation, Adefioye noted that the recipients were selected personalities from all segments of freight forwarding industry who have done the industry proud. He added that the awards were given to them to spur them to do more for the growth of the industry and Nigeria as a nation.
The award recipients included Comrade Timothy Awogbemi, Vice Chairman, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.
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