Open Letter to Tinubu: NAGAFF Seeks One Year Extension for Senior Customs Officers
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant a one year retirement extension to seasoned officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, due to retire in December 2026.
The appeal was contained in an open letter titled “The Matter of Mass Due Retirement of Seasoned Management Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS,” signed by NAGAFF Secretary General, Mr Godfrey Nwosu, in Lagos on Wednesday.
The association urged the President to use the proposed one year extension to prepare younger officers to assume leadership responsibilities and effectively manage the challenges of international trade in Nigeria.
NAGAFF expressed concern that the simultaneous retirement of experienced officers could affect the effective administration of the Customs Service, given its strategic role in implementing the country’s fiscal and trade policies.
“We are worried that the officers should not be let go in one swoop because Customs is a very strategic organisation in Nigeria, dealing directly in the implementation of fiscal policies of Nigeria trade matters,” the association stated.
It acknowledged the efforts of the Comptroller General of Customs and his management team in placing younger officers in strategic positions but maintained that an extension would provide adequate time to prepare them for the responsibilities ahead.
According to NAGAFF, the proposed extension would help stabilise the younger officers and ensure a smoother transition before the experienced personnel leave the Service.
The association also raised concerns over the influx of fake and adulterated products into Nigeria, attributing the situation partly to lapses in implementing the National Single Window platform.
It alleged that agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, had been denied the opportunity to fully discharge their statutory responsibilities.
NAGAFF said the Customs Service was contending with these challenges alongside freight forwarding practitioners, stressing the importance of maintaining experienced personnel during the transition.
The association further commended President Tinubu for removing the petroleum subsidy, expressing support for his efforts to address corruption and revive the Nigerian economy.
“Remain strong at heart in the interest of Nigerians,” NAGAFF urged the President, adding that its nationwide membership supported his efforts to rebuild the country.
The letter was copied to the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the President of the Senate, and the Comptroller-General of Customs.