By Sunday Ani
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to extend the mass retirement of seasoned Customs officers, who are due to retire in December 2026, by one year.
This was contained in a statement by the association’s Secretary-General, Mr Geophrey Nwosu, in Lagos yesterday.
The appeal was contained in an open letter to the President, titled, ‘The matter of mass due retirement of seasoned management officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).’
The association appealed to the President to extend the tenure of all the NCS officers retiring in December 2026 by one year.
It noted that the one year should be used to train and prepare the upcoming young officers, who would take over from them to face the challenges of international trade in Nigeria.
“Mr President, we write this letter to you from our strategic position in the maritime trade and transportation at the Nigerian gateways.
“We are worried that the officers should not be let go in one swoop because Customs is a very strategic organisation in Nigeria, dealing directly with the implementation of fiscal policies of Nigerian trade matters.
“The impending consequences of allowing these officers to go in one fell swoop shall definitely affect your hope for Nigeria’s redemption.
“We have noted the efforts of the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team, who are currently placing these young officers in strategic positions in the administration and management of the NCS.
“This underscores our worries, and to that extent, a one-year extension shall be most appropriate to stabilise them for the challenges ahead.
“The good news is that the young officers are willing and prepared to take the challenges at the appropriate time.
“Mr President, we are speaking to you from the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy. As we speak now, Nigeria is virtually a dumping ground for fake and adulterated products as a result of inherent lapses in the implementation of the single window platform.
“As we speak, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, NAFDAC and NESREA, among others, have been denied their statutory responsibilities. Today, Nigeria is a dumping ground for fake products from Asian countries,” NAGAFF stated.
According to the association, the Nigeria Customs Service is battling with the situation, with long-established relationships with freight forwarding practitioners.
“All of us in the NAGAFF family are most grateful to you for your courage to disengage and dismantle the petroleum subsidy.
“We know that when you pursue corruption, the return is that corruption shall pursue you. Remain strong at heart in the interest of Nigerians.
“NAGAFF is the umbrella body of all freight forwarding practitioners in Nigeria. Our large followership nationwide and members are with you in your efforts to revive the Nigeria of our dreams,” it added.
The letter was copied to Dr Boniface Aniebonam, Founder of NAGAFF, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, President of the Senate and the Comptroller-General of Customs.
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