The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) at the weekend came under attack on social media, over its announcement that ‘small associations’ are now collapsing into NAGAFF.
Founder of NAGAFF in a post on a Whatsaap group had announced that a large number of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Council of Managing Directors, NAFFAC and AREFFN have joined NAGAFF.
But, while responding to Aniebonam’s claim, former President of ANLCA and a BoT member, Ernest Elochukwu stated that: "For an association that boasts of mostly touts as members to claim to be the one showing directions or creating benchmark of professionalism is certainly most insulting of men and women who have been putting in conscientious efforts into making freight forwarding a respected profession in Nigeria"
"Someone calling himself a freight forwarder doesn't make him one just like registering a name that says an association is of "government approved" freight forwarders is meaningless except that Nigerians have become so gullible that anything goes".
President of National Association of Freight Agents and Consolidators (NAFFAC) Chukwuka Ani Agubamah also attacked the NAGAFF founder for spreading falsehood, describing the claim of acquiring other associations as "a load of rubbish".
Also reacting, a board member of Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN); Innocent Elum said that "the unguarded statements being issued by NAGAFF in recent times are really disappointing”.
"First, its President, Mr. Increase, lied to the public that only ANLCA and his own association, NAGAFF, were recognized. Now, we are being treated to another white lie to wit: that other associations, including the almighty ANLCA, are collapsing into NAGAFF, with further hollow claim that it is the NAGAFF that now sets the template of professionalism that other associations follow".
According to Elum, “it is a fact that ANLCA is the mother of all freight forwarding associations and that all registered associations including AREFFN and NAFAC are equal before the law with no one superior or inferior to the other”.
Aniebonam in the press release posted which was signed by one Emmanuel Agubanze had stated that weaker associations are collapsing because of loss of members.
The controversial statement reads: "At the moment greater numbers of the members of ANLCA, AREFFN, NCMDLCA and NAFFAC have voluntarily joined NAGAFF. It is also a fact that other small groupings of associations who are not recognised nor registered by CRFFN have completely moved en-masse into NAGAFF family of professionals. While NAGAFF appreciates the mass movement of practitioners, it is important that the key word remained education and education".
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