APFFLON Begs Customs CG, Wale Adeniyi for Inclusion in Foreign Trips for WCO Programmes, International Confrences

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) have appealed to the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Wale Adeniyi to include freight forwarders in foreign travels to World Customs Organization (WCO) and other international conferences.

National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite in a statement on Sunday commended the CG for approving a 5-day Adminstrative and Operational Awareness Training programme for freight forwarders in Lagos last week.

DAILY TREND reports that the well attended workshop was held at Customs Training College Ikeja from 11th to 15th of March 2024.

The APFFLON President said “Even as we commend the CGC, we also want to use this medium to urge him to always carry stakeholders along even to WCO programmes and other international confrences. All these will make positive impacts on individual participants as it targets at enhancing their capacities and transforming them to true professionals.

“APFFLON wish to also use this medium to appeal to other government agencies to tow the line of the NCS by regularly organizing trainings and sensitization programmes for Nigerians. We urge Standards Organization of Nigeria-SON, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control- NAFDAC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency- NDLEA to borrow a leaf from the Nigeria Customs Service”

Ogunojemite said the Customs training was targeted at providing comprehensive insight and guidance on the emerging administrative and operational trends in the Customs Clearance Process.

“And APFFLON wish to state that the workshop was a proof of the Comptroller General’s commitment to human capital development. We thank the CG for approving the training and also thank every Freight Forwarder that participated in the programme as well.

“The large turn up of freight forwarders was a clear indication of their hunger for knowledge. APFFLON was amazed by their massive response and we must give kudos to the Comptroller General of Customs for approving the workshop, all Commands’ Comptrollers and the facilitator, Compt. Oluyomi Adebakin. We want to say here that freight forwarders are happy with the gesture” he said

On the opening up of Apapa Port corridor by the Lagos State Government, the APFFLON President commended the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu, for the heroic feat, saying that freight forwarders and other maritime stakeholders are now happy.

“The decision was a noble one, and we applaud the collaboration. A lot has happened on that corridor, many lives have been lost while some have been permanently disabled trying to navigate that corridor. Before now, going to Apapa through that route was a big risk. APFFLON cannot thank the Governor enough, we admire his courage and will power as we hope and pray that the new order be sustained.

“APFFLON also commend the authorities for clearing the shanties raised in agglomeration along port access road, and we are of the opinion that those things that do not portray us well as a nation are not supposed to be allowed especially in a metropolitan city like Lagos. The port environment should be kept clean always because it is an international business area”