Agents at war with JACOFF

Peace at the nations ports in Lagos appear threatened as no fewer than four stakeholders in the freight forwarding business have criticised the activities of the Joint Action Committee of Freight Forwarders whom, they alleged, is sending out malicious text messages which accuse the customs leadership of corruption.

JACOFF is the almagam of three bodies of freight forwarders – the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents; National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders and the Council of Managing Directors of Freight Forwarders.

The stakeholders claim that the purpose of the JACOFF has been jettisoned and turned into an instrument of blackmail and harassment of customs service.

According to the Managing Director of Chief Rate International Agency, Mrs Ada Akpunonu, people of doubtful character who are ignorant of customs operational activities have hijacked the committee and are using it for personal vendetta and pre-meditated goals.

Akpunonu, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Tin Can Chapter of ANLCA wondered why the JACOFF had to single out customs for attacks and dissipate its energy in sending out malicious text messages just to discredit the customs leadership.

She added, “Customs is the least of our (agents) problems. The leadership of the service has shown enough commitment to the on-going reforms in the clearing procedures. Why has JACOFF not addressed the extortions and high charges of shipping companies and the terminal operators if truly it is fighting the cause of the agents?”

The Zonal Co-ordinator of Western Zone of ANLCA, Mr. Ozo Chukwurah, said the activities of the committee were capable of heating the system and affecting the robust relationship between the ANLCA leadership and the customs authority.

Chukwurah said he was dismayed by the confrontational attitude of the committee, an approach, he believed, was at variance with the constructive engagement and responsible partnership which the incumbent ANLCA national executive was preaching.

Also, the Chairman of the Tin Can Chapter of ANLCA, Mr. Kayode Farinto, described as disruptive and destabilising activites of JACOFF and dissociated himself from it.

The Managing Director of Owelle Venture Limited, Mr Kanikwu David, remarked that JACOFF as a child of necessity had outlived its usefulness.

He alleged that those behind the plot to cause disaffection between customs and clearing agents were acting out of frustration since the agents resisted the move by JACOFF to introduce payment of practicing fees.

He noted, “Unfortunately for them, that arrangement failed and the process through which they could make illegal money was stalled. That was the beginning of their mischief.”

The agents, however, warned the ANLCA leadership to be wary of the characters behind the committee as they only wanted to use the name of the association, with its long tradition of credibility, for personal gains.

Attempts to get the reaction of President of NAGAFF, Mr Eugene Nweke, was not successful as at press time.

Two text messages soliciting his reaction last Friday were not replied to, just as he did not pick calls to his phone from our correspondent on Saturday.