NAGAFF 24yrs Anniversary: Founder tasks freight forwarders on the quest for knowledge

 …as Ag. Registrar CRFFN commends NAGAFF Academy for human capacity building 

ZAINAB JUNAID

One of the core visions of the founder, sustainer, nurturer and mentor of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam was for all freight forwarders to receive professional training so as to gain more confident in handling operations at Ports.

As he stated that the quest for knowledge and wisdom is never an ending one, Dr. Boniface urged forwarders to be more proactive in their search for professional knowledge and upskill themselves in order to contribute to the human capacity building of the Nigerian workforce.

Speaking at NAGAFF 24 years anniversary and award celebration held on Friday at Rockview Hotels in Lagos, the NAGAFF founder stressed that for enhanced productivity in the system to be achieved, every member must have formal education. “Learning has no limit, you will be more confident to handle your operations when you have knowledge. But without it, you will just be wandering about,” he said.

He further urged the freight forwarders to strengthen ties with government in area of  achieving it’s objective as he noted that government cannot achieve it’s mandate alone but with positive collaboration with Freight Forwarders and in order to move the nation forward, collectivity and togetherness should be encouraged.

Also speaking at the occasion, Acting Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mrs Chinyere Uromta in her goodwill message commended NAGAFF academy for the upskill of over 2000 youths which has helped impacted in human capital development.

She said, “Over 2000 graduates have emerged from NAGAFF academy, NAGAFF mandate is in line with the mandate of the Council, that is why NAGAFF Academy is commendable. We need to get it right this time in the Port, bring about enhanced productivity in the force level and mitigate cost and also ensure that we engaged in sensitization programs, we need to bring stakeholders closer and also I will enjoined management of the association not to relent in their efforts of setting things right in the Ports.”

cross section of guests at NAGAFF 24years anniversary & award celebration 

In his welcome address, National President of the Association, Forwarder Ezisi Emmanuel Tochukwo opined that for Nigerian Ports to remain competitive in attracting more cargo flow in the region, government agencies have to check the inefficiencies in the ports and customs operations.

High Chief Tochukwu charged relevant government agencies like Nigeria Port Authority(NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Shippers Council(NSC) among others to make Nigerian Ports more efficient and competitive with global standards especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA).

To him, “the agencies need to do checks and balances on the Poor quality of services at the port which is key to operational efficiency; arbitrary hike in duty and terminal charge which indirectly affects port operational efficiency; illegal activities of non-state actors within and around the port terminals; how proliferation of agencies contribute to cargo clearing delays; Challenges faced by Truck Drivers in accessing terminal gate and loading among other problems faced by port users.”

Speaking on how the association has immensely contributed to the Country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since it’s inception, Forwarder Tochukwu stressed that the presence of NAGAFF members’ business operations within and around the port areas has added value to the livelihood of the immediate community through employment and job creation and has enhanced growth in the national economy by facilitating international trade flows through ports across the nation.

He added that the journey of the past 24years has seen NAGAFF grow from its meagre number of persons to over 10,000 registered members.

“Having successfully sustained professional freight forwarding practice for the past 24 years, we are currently working on digitalizing the records of NAGAFF members’ nationwide with an automated database,” he disclosed.

The ceremony was also graced by Comptroller Dera Nnadi, Customs Area Controller of TinCan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service; Barrister Bello Hassan, former Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Nigeria Shippers Council; Acting Registrar CRFFN, Mrs Chinyere Uromta; Dr. Farinto Kayode Collins, MD /CEO Wealthy Honey Investment Ng. Ltd; Captain John T. Okakpu, Chairman and Coordinator, Nigeria Agro Export Setup Committee among others.