The founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has inaugurated a special “Trade War Committee” to confront corruption and operational inefficiencies within Nigeria’s port system.
Speaking during the unveiling, Aniebonam said the committee would gather intelligence and evidence on trade malpractices across the maritime sector and submit findings to the federal government to support reforms.
“We are putting our hands together to assist the president in bringing back the past glory of our country,” Aniebonam said.
“In our sector, we thought it wise that we need to add value, and that is the essence of this committee.”
He described corruption in the ports as a major contributor to Nigeria’s broader economic and security challenges.
“If you want to get into that murky water, it is war,” he said.
“Corruption has no value for our country. Many of the problems we see today are consequences of corrupt behavior and people acting outside the constitution.”
According to Aniebonam, the committee will focus on intelligence gathering, policy advocacy and engagement with government agencies, importers, exporters, shipping companies and freight forwarders to address systemic problems in cargo documentation and clearance processes.
He said the body would operate from the office of the NAGAFF founder and would work largely through evidence-based engagement rather than public accusations.
“This will not be a platform to blackmail anybody,” he said.
“We will do less in the media and more engagement with government using documents and material evidence.”
Aniebonam said persistent exploitation, regulatory excesses and operational bottlenecks within the ports undermine the federal government’s reform agenda.
“The current level of exploitation within the port environment undermines the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President,” he said.
He called on regulatory agencies and stakeholders to cooperate with the committee to improve transparency and efficiency across Nigeria’s port and logistics chain.
