Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The 100% Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has thrown its full support behind Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) of Tariffs and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, praising her dedication to enhancing trade facilitation within the Nigeria Customs Service.
In a statement released today, June 6, 2024, the NAGAFF Compliance Team commended DCG Niagwan for her prompt response to industry concerns and her effective resolution strategies. Despite facing criticism from certain fast-paced sectors, the association believes that DCG Niagwan’s methods significantly benefit the broader industry.
Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Team, endorsed this message of appreciation, affirming NAGAFF’s unwavering support for DCG Niagwan. The association committed to ongoing assistance and cooperation, urging the DCG to continue her steadfast efforts.
This endorsement comes amid rumors of private companies attempting to take over customs revenue collection—a role traditionally held by the federal government. These companies claim they can exceed the service’s annual revenue targets by up to 300% in the first year, with plans to increase this margin in subsequent years.
NAGAFF has firmly opposed these rumored takeovers, asserting that the current customs management, under DCG Niagwan’s leadership, is fully capable of handling revenue collection. The association attributes recent successes to the innovative measures and strategies implemented by the tariffs and trade unit.
“We, on the field, can testify to the increased revenue accruing to the federal government since the new management took over. Lest we forget; this road had been travelled before with PIDA. The sour taste had lingered up till now,” the statement read.
“The attendant delays, arising out of ignorance of customs procedures and processes, caused a lot of disquiet back then. Officers’ morale was dampened, and their professional integrity compromised.”
The statement concluded with a firm rejection of the idea of private companies taking over revenue collection and a strong wish for DCG Niagwan’s continued success in improving the revenue collection efforts of the Nigerian Customs Service.