MID MARITIME BONDED TERMINAL MOUNTS RESISTANCE AGAINST NAGAFF’S COMPLIANCE TEAM

… Alleges forceful access to the terminal

… We now have a working agreement – National Coordinator

By Mcanthony Onuoha

What seemed to be a mild drama took place on Wednesday when members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF)’s Presidential Compliance Team paid a visit to Mid Maritime Bonded Terminal by TinCan Island 2nd Gate.

The team led by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, met a stiff resistance at the gate by the terminal’s security personnel. What would have ignited a full blown fracas was later resolved following the level of maturity displayed by the National Coordinator, who expeditiously addressed members reminding them of the need to conduct themselves peacefully as well as reminding them that the visit was meant to be a cordial one.

Initially, members of the team numbering over forty struggled to gain entry into the terminal as the guards made way for the leader of the team who headed straight to have a talk with the Terminal Manager and the Deputy Comptroller in charge of the Terminal. The guards who became so furious insisted that the number was way too much to be allowed access to a business area.

The Team Leader, who is the Vice President, Western Zone, NAGAFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, commenced a Nationwide tour of Bonded Terminals and Customs Commands on Wednesday with Mid Maritime Bonded Terminal as the first port of call.

However, the Terminal Manager alleged that the team broke protocols by forcefully gaining entry into the terminal and vehemently condemned the action.

Briefing team members who could not gain entry into the business premises before going in for the meeting proper with the DC Terminal, and the Terminal Management, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko said, “they are alleging that we forcefully tried to gain entry into the office complex which l know full well was never the case. I sincerely apologized to the Manager for any unethical behavior whatsoever. We are very sorry if at all anything of that nature happened. Our mission here is to harmonize some issues with the DC Terminal.”

“I crave your indulgence, we will take few people along to address the DC Terminal on our mission here, we all cannot go into the premises.” He advised.

Briefing Newsmen on what prompted the visitation, Tanko disclosed that some individuals who, according to him, claim ownership of the place and are abetting wrong doings around the terminal insisted that NAGAFF’s Compliance Team would not be allowed into the terminal but assured that it had been successfully resolved.

Alhaji Tanko also told Newsmen that the Deputy Comptroller in charge of the terminal had also agreed to work with the team adding that he (the DC) had spoken with the Founder of NAGAFF on telephone, assuring him of his corporation with the Association. “I, as the team leader, have made it clear to the DC that the team is very willing to collaborate with him to ensure compliance at the terminal. We are also glad that the Terminal Management that opposed our mission here has also resolved to accommodate us, he has promised to give me a call today or tomorrow and l strongly believe that we have resolved whatever differences we had before now”, Tanko said.

However, Alhaji Tanko expressed satisfaction with the availability of equipment as well as the standard of the forklifts at the terminal. “l was here before,they have equipment, they have about five to six standard forklifts ,you can see the premises, the environment is good, but what we are trying to find out that l am not sure for now is their charges, but within a short while, we will look into that area to know what their handling charges are like”, he assured.

Meanwhile the floor of the terminal was flooded following the recent heavy downpour. Speaking on the flooded floor, the Team Leader said,” it is not good for operation, l complained about it and they assured us that they would communicate with the MD on the issue . I was given the mobile phone number but l refused to have it. I had to do that following their initial approach, but they promised that l would surely receive a call from The MD,” he said.

On the squabble between his team and the terminal guards, Alhaji Tanko said,” we are here together with all of you, did we exchange blows ? We did not fight anybody here but let me tell you one thing, people are not at ease with the Compliance Team, some see us as enemies, it is left for us to explain to such individuals that we are not their enemies. We are trying to make sure people do the right things, it is a gradual process . Most of us are not doing the right things and are enjoying it. Even some of our members are fighting us because we are asking them to always be compliant”.

“The process is a gradual one, you can see what ensued here,they were trying to refuse us,but in the end, what happened ? They sure accepted us and that was when they heard from us, and we promise to carry out our task responsibly and in very professional manner”, he assured .