NAGAFF APPEALS TO CGC ADENIYI OVER 8 MISSING AUCTION BUSES ALLOCATED TO ACADEMY

NAGAFF Appeals to CGC Adeniyi Over 8 Missing Auction Buses Allocated to Academy

By Babatunde Aremu

*The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, has appealed to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to intervene and facilitate the release of *eight buses* allocated to its academy through the Service’s auction process.

Founder of NAGAFF, *Dr. Boniface Aniebonam*, made the appeal on on Tuesday expressing concern that the vehicles are still awaiting release despite the association completing payment and all necessary documentation.

According to Aniebonam, NAGAFF had originally applied for *41 vehicles* for use across its formations nationwide, including Kebbi and Sokoto. The association was eventually allocated eight buses.

“We accepted the allocation, paid, and processed everything. We got to the port, but we could not see even one physically,” he said.

He described the situation as unfortunate, noting that funds had already been committed to the auctioned vehicles.

“Right now, we have paid and our money is stuck. If we knew, we wouldn’t have applied in the first instance and continue to struggle in our usual manner,” he stated.

Aniebonam stressed that the buses were not for personal use of officials but were intended to support the *NAGAFF Academy* in transporting students and lecturers, and providing logistics for training activities.

He said the support is critical to the success of ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Customs Service, arguing that education is essential to building the capacity of young freight forwarders.

“If Adeniyi does not participate to assist and educate these young freight forwarders, all his reforms may be like building a castle on a sheet of sand,” Aniebonam said.

The NAGAFF founder appealed to the CGC to personally look into the matter and investigate what happened to the vehicles.

“NAGAFF and Customs are very close, responsible partners since 1999. It is our hope and belief that CGC Adeniyi shall take interest personally to know what happened,” he said.

He urged Customs management to urgently examine the circumstances surrounding the delay and work with relevant stakeholders to resolve the issue. He added that releasing the buses would strengthen the academy’s capacity to train the next generation of freight forwarders.