NAGAFF Seeks Customs Intervention Over Eight Auctioned Buses Held At Port
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has appealed to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, to intervene in the release of eight auctioned buses allocated to the association.
The buses, according to NAGAFF, have remained at the port despite the association completing payment and other necessary processing required for their release.
Founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, made the appeal while expressing concern over the association’s inability to take possession of the vehicles, which were acquired to support transportation and training activities at the NAGAFF Academy.
Aniebonam explained that NAGAFF initially applied for 41 vehicles of different brands for use across its various chapters and operations, but was eventually allocated only eight buses.
He said the association accepted the allocation and made the required payments, only to encounter difficulties when it attempted to take possession of the vehicles at the port.
According to him, the situation had left the association in a difficult position, having committed funds to the purchase without being able to access the vehicles.
He said, “The buses have remained at the port despite the completion of payment and processing. We applied for 41 vehicles, cutting across Chapters, Kebbi, Sokoto and all others. We were given eight, which we paid for and processed. On getting to the port, we could not get one.”
Aniebonam described the situation as “double jeopardy”, noting that the association’s funds had already been committed to the vehicles.
He stressed that the buses were not purchased for the personal use of NAGAFF members but were intended primarily to facilitate the activities of students and staff of the NAGAFF Academy.
According to him, the vehicles would be used to transport students, support logistics, serve as teaching aids and facilitate the movement of lecturers and other personnel connected with the training school.
The NAGAFF founder therefore urged the Customs Comptroller-General to intervene and ensure that the matter was resolved promptly.
He also emphasised the cordial relationship between NAGAFF and the Customs Service, saying the association’s decision to make the matter public was aimed at attracting attention to the issue and finding a solution.
“NAGAFF and Customs are very close, responsible partners. However, we decided to make this one open to help us check it,” he said.
As of the time of filing the report, efforts by Vanguard to obtain a response from the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service were unsuccessful, as he reportedly read a WhatsApp message sent to him but did not respond.
