NAGAFF President, Ezisi, Pledges Stronger Customs Partnership At PTML

By Modinat Eniodunmo

The National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, has reaffirmed the association’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), urging the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command to sustain its support for freight forwarders.

Ezisi gave the assurance on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the PTML Command, Comptroller Nura Ibrahim Miko, accompanied by the newly elected executives of the NAGAFF PTML Chapter.

The visit provided an opportunity to formally introduce the chapter’s new leadership, elected to serve a four-year term, and establish a stronger working relationship with the command’s management.

Ezisi explained that although letters introducing the new executives had been sent to various departmental heads, he considered it necessary to personally present the leadership to the CAC to promote direct engagement and effective collaboration.

Describing NAGAFF as a law-abiding association with a longstanding relationship with the Customs Service, the president emphasised the importance of professionalism, regulatory compliance and cooperation in facilitating legitimate trade.

He urged Miko to maintain open communication with the chapter’s leadership whenever disagreements or operational challenges arose, assuring him that the national leadership would intervene where necessary to resolve issues amicably.

Ezisi acknowledged that, like other large organisations, NAGAFF comprised members with different attitudes and approaches to issues, stressing that effective leadership required the ability to manage such differences constructively.

He also highlighted the role of the association’s compliance team, whose guiding principle, “If you see something, say something,” reflects its commitment to identifying and reporting compliance concerns.

While commending the CAC for the support extended to freight forwarders at PTML, Ezisi urged him to sustain the cordial relationship and continue assisting the chapter within the limits of his authority.

He noted that NAGAFF operated as a non-profit organisation, relying substantially on the contributions and activities of its chapters to support its national responsibilities.

Customs Assures Freight Forwarders of Continued Support

In his response, Comptroller Miko assured NAGAFF members of the command’s continued cooperation, describing the relationship between Customs officers and freight forwarders at the terminal as cordial.

He commended the association for its organisational structure and commitment to training and capacity development through its training school.

The CAC recalled his previous engagements with NAGAFF’s leadership, praising Ezisi for maintaining a strong relationship with the Customs Service and ensuring that the association was adequately represented at stakeholder meetings whenever he was unavailable.

Miko reaffirmed the command’s commitment to supporting freight forwarders, noting that Customs officers and industry operators belonged to the same maritime community and needed to work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.

He disclosed that the command had continued engaging terminal operators on the need to improve the working environment for Customs officers and freight forwarders, expressing optimism that the discussions would produce better conditions for stakeholders.

The CAC also encouraged freight forwarders to report any shortcomings in the conduct of Customs officers, assuring them that complaints and feedback would be taken seriously and used to identify areas requiring improvement.

However, he urged stakeholders to acknowledge and appreciate good performance, stressing that constructive engagement, mutual respect and collaboration were essential to efficient port operations.

Miko further commended NAGAFF members for their approach to resolving operational challenges, noting that they generally engaged the command whenever issues arose.

He assured the association that his management team remained committed to sustaining its relationship with NAGAFF and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.

NAGAFF Hails CAC’s Commitment to Stakeholder Engagement

In his vote of thanks, NAGAFF Vice President, Simeon Nwonu, described the visit as a homecoming, recalling Miko’s previous relationship with the association during his service in Apapa.

Nwonu expressed satisfaction with the CAC’s assurance that he would maintain the cordial relationship and accessibility that had characterised his interactions with stakeholders.

He thanked Miko and his management team for the warm reception, expressing confidence that NAGAFF members operating at PTML would benefit from sustained engagement with the command.

The vice president also offered prayers for the career advancement of Customs officers and other stakeholders, expressing hope that the existing cooperation between NAGAFF and the Customs Service would continue to grow.

The visit reinforced the importance of sustained dialogue and collaboration between freight forwarding associations and the Customs Service in promoting regulatory compliance, improving cargo clearance processes and facilitating legitimate trade at Nigeria’s ports.