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NAGAFF President Promises To Support More Budding Freight Forwarders in 2023

The National President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Tochukwu Ezisi has pledged to support up-and-coming Freight Forwarders during his tenure.

Ezisi who disclosed this in a New Year message sent to his members and the maritime community, felicitate with the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, Board and NEC members and entire members of NAGAFF for the achievements recorded in 2022.

He specifically commended the Association for the liberation of young freight forwarders, which according to him NAGAFF as a movement will continue to do adding that 2023 will be better than 2022.

“In the maritime Industry we all understand what the problems are, and NAGAFF as the umbrella as our Founder used to say, NAGAFF 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″. He said.

On government policies and operational challenges encountered by freight forwarders in 2022, Ezisi 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 disruption in the sector in the year under review.

In his words, “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.

“Looking at it , Government did not ban the 41 items, so if the new president look into those  41 items, lifting it from Forex ban , it will go a long way to improve the economy in the coming year”.

In his assessment of the maritime industry in 2022, the NAGAFF president said the execution of some government policies like the VIN Valuation and jacking up of Pre -Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), though in goodwill, caused hardship for freight forwarders and Nigerians.

He expressed hope that the next government in 2023 will address the various policies affecting the sector.

“I wish all my Members and other stakeholders in the maritime Industry , a PROSPEROUS new year”, Ezisi said.

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