The National President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Hon. Tochukwu Ezisi has promised that more young Freight Forwarders will be liberated under his leadership in 2023.
The NAGAFF President said this in a Christmas and New Year message sent to his members and the maritme community.
He felicitated with the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, Board and NEC members and entire members of NAGAFF for the achievements recorded in 2022, especially liberation of young freight forwarders, which according to him, NAGAFF as a movement, will continue to do in 2023.
“In the maritme Industry we all understand what the problems are, and NAGAFF, as the umbrella, as our Founder used to say, is a Movement and this liberation, trying to liberate young freight forwarders.
“We tried the much we could do this year and by next year, 2023 , we will strive harder making sure young freight forwarders are being liberated . That we promised we do in 2023”.
Speaking further on some government policies and operational challenges faced by fright forwarders in 2022, he said the restrictions of Forex on 41 items by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the introduction of the Vehicle Identification Number ( VIN) Valuation caused some disruptions in the sector in 2022.
“In 2023, we will be happy to usher in a new President for the country. We hope he has a listening ear . Actually the major problem in 2022 was the 41 items, they are not contraband items, but government said they are not raising Forex, that was the major problem we have in 2022, because these items constitute like 60% of imports.
“And so people will bring them in calling it different names as a way of survival. And looking at it , government did not ban the 41 items. So if the new president should look into those 41 items, lifting it from Forex ban, it will go a long way to improve the economy in the coming year”.
Esisi in further accessing the maritme industry in 2022 said some of the government policies like the VIN Valuation policy and jacking up of Pre -Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) by the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS), though was in goodwill , but the administration of the policies caused hardship for freight forwarders and Nigerians.
