The Freight Anti-Corruption Vanguards of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (FAVFFN) has reinstated its national structure with a sharper, more aggressive mandate to confront the worsening corruption crippling Nigeria’s ports, customs processes, and logistics corridors.
Speaking in Lagos, National Chairman Dr. Increase Uche said the vanguard’s revival was triggered by a disturbing surge in extortion, trade malpractices, and unchecked abuse of authority across Nigeria’s cargo-clearance chain.
“The corruption in our ports has become hydra-headed and impossible to ignore. We are stepping forward to restore integrity, transparency, and professionalism in freight-forwarding operations,” he remarked.
Uche said the renewed drive is strengthened by a recent intensive sensitization workshop held in Lagos in partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), whose Lagos State Anti-Corruption Commissioner led the engagement.
The former NAGAFF President noted that the collaboration demonstrates the importance of joint government-industry action in cleansing the system.
Aligning with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, FAVFFN expressed alarm that corruption continues to thrive despite the presence of Anti-Corruption Units (ACTU) in key port agencies.
Uche recalled that earlier gains recorded between 2005 and 2009 have now been wiped out by years of deteriorating port governance.
He faulted the 2006 port concession reforms, saying their promises of transparency, competitiveness, and reduced cost remain unfulfilled—fueling massive cargo diversion to neighbouring countries.
Under its reactivated structure, FAVFFN listed five core priorities: tightening ethical compliance, strengthening partnerships with oversight bodies, expanding nationwide sensitization, enabling secure reporting of infractions, and pushing policy reforms that reduce bureaucracy and curb corruption.
Uche said freight forwarders will undergo new training to become “Integrity Champions” capable of resisting and reporting corrupt practices without fear.
He announced that FAVFFN will undertake a systematic review of infractions from pre-import documentation—such as Form M approvals—down to cargo delivery, and will begin profiling corrupt officials aiding malpractice across the ports.
He urged full cooperation from all port-related agencies, especially the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), stressing that restoring sanity to the ports requires collective responsibility.
The vanguard says it will also intensify enlightenment programs for young freight forwarders to curb emerging unethical trends.
“Our mission is clear. We are rebuilding a freight and logistics ecosystem where fairness and ethical excellence are non-negotiable,” Uche posited.
FAVFFN emphasized that its renewed campaign aims to protect government revenue, ease trade processes, and strengthen Nigeria’s economic stability.
