…make new appointment to realize mandate
The National Coordinator, 100% Compliance Team of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko has blasted the Nigerian Shippers’ Council over its silence on transfer charges increase by bonded terminals without consultation.
Tanko expressed the displeasure of the Team over the inaction of the Shippers’ Council as regards the increment at the first meeting of the Team in Apapa, Lagos, today, saying the Team has appointed Fwdr Stanley Ejiogu as Head of Operations for it to further realize its core mandate of smooth cargo operations and to execute planned actions in the year 2023.
Tanko who said more appointments would be made soon stated that the Compliance Team members were now ready to work and however solicited the cooperation and understanding of chapter chairmen of NAGAFF in the discharge of their duties in the interest of the freight forwarders, NAGAFF and other stakeholders in the industry.
“We are not here to witchhunt anybody. Let them not see us as enemies. We are partners in progress and from one big family, NAGAFF,” said Tanko who said it would not be business as usual again as his team would rapport with the security agencies in the in the industry such as the Police, EFCC, including the ICPC to ensure total compliance to trade rules.
Assuring that undue delay of cargos at the ports, demurages, multiple alerts, over charges would be a thing of the past, he said “We will work with security agencies such as EFCC, ICPC and we have had meetings with them, we have understanding with them and they are ready to work with us . In fact, we will even go for training with them on how to get facts and figures. So we are ready to work now and anybody who thinks he is a god, we are going to tell him, he is not god.
“You know for some time we went for a break, but you see ,you know when to much complain everywhere Tanko, Tanko, Tanko, I decided to be cool down, let me be a little calm. Friends and loved ones talked to me, I had to keep quiet but I noticed that keeping quiet is not going to solve any problem.
“A lot of thing is going wrong. Everybody doing what they like. Talk of Customs, talk of shipping companies, terminal operators, Bonded Terminals, even Nigerian Shippers’ Council is even the worst. People that suppose to help us are not helping us.
“I think there is a need for me to come back to let people know that everybody must do his duty. Just for example, if the President assigns responsibility to Ministers, directors and others, then, do you expect him to come down and do the work? And if they fail, you should blame them and not the President.
“We have NPA, we have Shippers’ Council, We have Minister of Transportation, we have CG of Customs, we have Comptrollers in various places, let’s lay our complain to them. We need to ask them questions of what they are doing. Look at bonded terminals have increase their transfer charges without consulting anybody. Shippers’ Council management is there watching them without saying a word. So, there are a lot of issues.
“In Apapa, we have a new Area Controller, it is not time for us to hit him with multiple problems. We are going to allow him to look at the areas as see how he can help us. He has seen the outstanding issues, so he can be able to help us achieve that purpose. We don’t want to border him now.
“But other people, this time around, they will hear me very soon. They will hear Ibrahim Tanko very soon. We have a lot of greed and we have changed our pattern . It will not be assual. If we notice you are doing the wrong thing, we will report you to the appropriate quarters. We have them, EFCC is there, ICPC is there. They will invite you and you go there and write statement.
The 100% Compliance Team Boss urged his team members to be committed to duty and ensure honesty, transparency in carrying out their task in order to fulfill their mandate and added that the group still retains its former name, 100% Compliance Team as against 100% Compliance Task Team as seen in some online media.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Compliance Team, Western Zone, Dr. Fred Ajuzie emphasised the need for seriousness, commitment and dedication by the members to the actualisation of their set targets.
Dr Ajuzie urged them to emulate the exemplary footsteps of the National Coordinator of the team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko by going extra miles in their assignments to achieve results.
He opined,” As we are here, concept of old is gone. We are now in a new concept and because of that you must show seriousness in your job, The old Concept is gone, work assiduously and be diligent in your duties .
In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed Head of Operations of 100% Compliance Team, Fwdr. Stanley Ejiogu described his new position as a heculian task but pledged to live up to expectation.
In his words: “I was fully working for NAGAFF. I presumed that was why the national coordinator of 100% Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko and his management team thought it wise to appoint me because they have seen my commitment in NAGAFF and all the input I have made not minding that I lost in the last chapter election of NAGAFF. Indeed, am very happy. I will not disappoint the national coordinator, Alhaji Tanko.”
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