The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant a one-year extension to senior Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers due for retirement by December.
This, it said, would ensure stability in the service and the Nigeria Maritime sector .
This is contained in a statement signed by NAGAFF Secretary General, Mr Geophrey Nwosu in Lagos on Wednesday.
The appeal is contained in an open letter to the President titled: “The Matter of Mass Due Retirement of Seasoned Management Officers of Nigeria Customs Service”.
The association appealed to the President to extend tenure of all NCS officers retiring by December by one year for national interest.
It noted that one year should be used to train and prepare young officers taking over to face challenges of international trade.
“Mr President, we write this letter to you from our strategic position in maritime trade and transportation at Nigeria gateways.
“We are worried that officers should not be let go in one swoop because customs is a strategic organisation dealing with fiscal policies.
“The impending consequences of allowing these officers to go in a swoop shall definitely affect your hope for Nigeria’s redemption.
“We have noted efforts of Comptroller General of Customs and his management team, placing young officers in strategic positions.
“”This underscores our worries, and to that extent, a one-year extension shall be most appropriate to stabilise young officers for challenges ahead,” it said.
According to the association, the good news is that the young officers are willing and prepared to take challenges at appropriate time when called upon.
“Mr President, we are speaking to you from heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy. Nigeria is virtually dumping ground for fake products.”
The association said the situation is due to inherent lapses in implementation of single window platform affecting regulatory agencies statutory responsibilities at the ports.
“As we speak, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA)among others, have been denied statutory responsibilities, making Nigeria dumping ground for fake products,” NAGAFF stated.
According to the association, Nigeria customs is battling the situation with long-established relationships with freight forwarding practitioners at various entry points nationwide.
“All of us in NAGAFF family are most grateful to you for courage to disengage and dismantle petroleum subsidy regime. Remain strong at heart in the interest of Nigerians.
“NAGAFF is the umbrella body of all freight forwarding practitioners in Nigeria. Our large followership nationwide and members are with you,” it stated.
The association reaffirmed commitment to supporting president Tinubu’s efforts to revive Nigeria through effective trade facilitation and reforms.
The letter was copied to Dr Boniface Aniebonam, Founder of NAGAFF, Secretary to Government of the Federation, President of Senate and Comptroller General of Customs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Tinubu in June, approved a final six-month tenure extension for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, allowing him to remain in office until February 2027.
The extension was announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Adeniyi’s first tenure extension was due to expire on August 1, 2026 but Tinubu approved an additional six months to enable him to complete key reforms within the NCS.
Onanuga said the extension was granted “to enable him to consolidate the implementation of the National Single Window and ensure an orderly succession in the service.(NAN)
