Apparently worried by the lingering face-off that has crippled the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), some leading practitioners have commenced clamour for the reinstatement of two erstwhile leaders of the Council.
They argued that if the duo of Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju; the immediate past Chairman and his predecessor in office; Mr Tony Nwabunike could be contacted and brought back, then the Council will bounce back.
One of them, a foremost freight forwarder, Alhaji Moshood Tijani also argued that, for the new Comptroller General of Customs; Col Hameed Ali to succeed in its quest to restructure , reform and increase revenue collection , there is the need for him to liaise with the CRFFN and distanced himself from any relationship with freight forwarding associations.
Alhaji Moshood urged the Comptroller General of Customs not to relate with any freight forwarding association, stressing that the CRFFN remains the umbrella body of all freight forwarding in Nigeria.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily exclusively in Lagos recently for the first time since series of problems rocking the CRFFN began, the freight forwarder who was also a member of the immediate past governing council of the CRFFN, advocated for the need for Customs to partner with the Council in order to enhance trade facilitation.
Alhaji Moshood also maintained that since the council is still in comatose, there is need for the immediate past governing council chairman; Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju to oversee activities of the CRFFN, until a new council will be put in place.
The foremost clearing agent however acknowledged that ANLCA remains the father of all associations, saying that all other groups that sprang up from it were borne out of selfish interests.
He said that both the CRFFN and the Customs are two agencies of the federal government, adding that synergy among the two agencies will aid trade facilitation.
He further solicited for the former chairmen of CRFFN; Mr Tony Nwabunike and Alhaji Hakeem Olarenwaju to be reinstated to champion the course of CRFFN in the interim.
"The only association we have in this country is ANLCA and it is through ANLCA other associations came up with various dissident and they are not responsive to the interest of the so called freight forwarders"
"The truth is that all the associations are fighting for their selfish interest and are no fighting for the practitioners"
"Since CRFFN has come to stay, there is need for Customs to partner with it, if the present CGC wants to excel he must not associate with either ANLCA,NAGAFF or other freight forwarding associations"
"If the customs want to have anything to do with the practitioners; then the CG should consult the CRFFN, because it is the umbrella body of all registered operators in freight forwarding practice.
Also calling for the partnership between customs and the CRFFN, National President of the Nigerian Institute of Freight Forwarding and Customs brokers (NIFFCB); Dr. Zebulon ikokide said that there is need for Customs to assist the Council for it to perform optimally. He also called for the recall of the former chairmen of the governing Council of CRFFN.
Ikokide added that customs partnership with CRFFN will further enhance freight forwarders practitioners in the course of facilitating trade.
He also advised the new CG of Customs not to romance the agents associations, saying that CRFFN can put in place better working relations with the service.
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