The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has pledged to strengthen its partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to promote compliance, facilitate legitimate trade and address operational challenges at the Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command.
The National President of NAGAFF, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, made the commitment on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Customs Area Controller of PTML Command, Comptroller Nura Ibrahim Miko, in Lagos.
Ezisi, who was accompanied by the newly elected executives of the NAGAFF PTML Chapter, said the visit was aimed at formally introducing the chapter’s leadership and establishing a stronger working relationship with the command.
He explained that although letters introducing the new executives had been sent to various departmental heads, he considered it important to present them personally to the command’s leadership.
The NAGAFF president described the association as a law-abiding organisation with a longstanding relationship with the Customs Service, emphasising the need for professionalism, compliance and cooperation in cargo clearance operations.
He urged Miko to maintain open communication with the chapter’s leadership whenever disagreements or operational challenges arose, assuring him that the association’s national leadership would intervene where necessary to resolve issues.
Ezisi acknowledged that members of the association had different approaches to issues, noting that effective leadership required understanding these differences and managing them constructively.
He also highlighted the role of NAGAFF’s compliance team, whose slogan, “If you see something, say something,” reflects its commitment to identifying and reporting compliance concerns.
While commending the PTML Command for its support for freight forwarders, Ezisi appealed to the controller to sustain the cordial relationship and continue assisting the association’s members.
He noted that NAGAFF was a non-profit organisation that depended substantially on the contributions and activities of its chapters to support its operations at the national level.
In his response, Miko assured freight forwarders of the command’s continued cooperation, describing the relationship between Customs officers and industry operators at the terminal as cordial.
He commended NAGAFF for its organisational structure and commitment to training and capacity development through its training school.
The controller also praised Ezisi for maintaining communication with the Customs Service and ensuring that the association was represented at stakeholder meetings, even when the national president could not attend personally.
Miko stressed that Customs officers and freight forwarders operated within the same business environment and needed to maintain mutual respect and cooperation to ensure efficient port operations.
He disclosed that the command had continued engaging terminal operators on the need to improve working conditions for Customs officers and freight forwarders, expressing optimism that the discussions would produce better outcomes for stakeholders.
The controller also encouraged freight forwarders to report unprofessional conduct by Customs officers, assuring them that complaints and feedback would be taken seriously.
He, however, urged stakeholders to acknowledge good performance, noting that constructive engagement and mutual respect were essential to maintaining effective working relationships.
Miko commended NAGAFF members for their willingness to engage with the command whenever operational issues arose and reaffirmed his management team’s readiness to sustain cooperation with the association and other maritime stakeholders.
Earlier, NAGAFF Vice President, Simeon Nwonu, described the visit as a homecoming, recalling Miko’s previous engagements with the association during his service in Apapa.
Nwonu expressed satisfaction with the controller’s assurance of continued cooperation and accessibility, thanking him and his management team for the reception.
He expressed confidence that NAGAFF members operating at PTML would benefit from sustained engagement with the command.
The visit highlighted the importance of collaboration between freight forwarding associations and the Customs Service in strengthening compliance, addressing operational concerns and facilitating legitimate trade at Nigeria’s ports.
One Comment