Against the backdrop of u of conflict between it and the Nigeria Customs Service, the chairman of governing council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju has stated that there was no conflict of roles between the Council and the Nigeria Customs Service.
The council chairman told NAN that while the Customs operates the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) upon which it licenses corporate companies as its agents, the CRFFN regulates the individual freight forwarder and conducts training.
Against the backdrop of u of conflict between it and the Nigeria Customs Service, the chairman of governing council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju has stated that there was no conflict of roles between the Council and the Nigeria Customs Service.
The council chairman told NAN that while the Customs operates the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) upon which it licenses corporate companies as its agents, the CRFFN regulates the individual freight forwarder and conducts training.
The clarification comes on the heels of rising agitations among freight forwarders and licensed customs agents about the perceived conflict between the two government agencies.
Olanrewaju also bemoaned the falling standards of port facilities, even as he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum that there was need to improve most of the equipment used by port concessionaires.
The freight forwarder said the port concessionaires were still using mostly old cargo equipment (cargo-handling plants) handed over to them by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
He said the concessionaires needed to improve the equipment to make cargo movement faster and easier.
“We are talking about the roads in the ports which I think the Federal Government is working drastically on that.
“And the port concessionaires, they need to improve their facilities, their equipment because most of the equipment they are using were the ones they took over from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); they need expansion and they need empty container terminals.’’
Olanrewaju said the council was already focusing on the training of freight forwarders to make them more acceptable to the society as many regarded freight forwarders as school dropouts or as people with criminal tendencies.
He commended the Federal Government for embarking on port reforms, stressing that the training of freight forwarders who were major players at the ports would impact positively on the nation’s economy.
He said it was strongly believed that CRFFN’s achievements in the freight forwarding regulation and control would, among other things, reduce the cost and delays in cargo clearance and minimise human and vehicular congestion at ports and terminals.
According to him, a functional port system will promote export trade and enhance the import-export economy of Nigeria.
The CRFFN would want government to sustain its commitment to the development of efficient freight forwarding industry by giving the council the much-needed support to exercising her statutory functions and responsibilities set out for the council, he said.
Olarenwaju said that it was the council’s belief that good planning and strategy could help turn the fortunes of the sub-sector around and reposition the nation’s ports and borders as efficient regional hubs of integrity.
“A virile port system would create job opportunities and raise more entrepreneurs, “Olanrewaju said.
Meanwhile, Olanrewaju said, the council was prepared to re-admit members suspended on account of professional misconduct.
He said that the suspended members would join the council after some conditions had been met.
The council suspended three of its members in September 2011 following what it described as `anti-council activities’ inimical to the sustainable growth of CRFFN.
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