By Joshua Yousouph
The Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) has raised concerns over the payment of the Practitioners Operating Fees (POF), training and registration of freight forwarders.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to the AREFFN National secretariat in Lagos on Thursday, the National President of the Association, Alhaji Bala Lawan Daura noted that despite the full compliance of registered members in paying the POF, many are yet to get proceeds accruable to declarants.
Alhaji Bala Lawan who was represented by the National Secretary of the association, Mr Frank Obiekezie, also said that many freight forwarders are too old to enroll for a full-time training on freight forwarding. He however charged the management of CRFFN to provide adequate resources to enable its members get on-the-job training while they make their living.
Lawan stressed that it is important for every freight forwarder to be registered with an association. According to him, it will be easier to regulate freight forwarders when they all belong to one association or the other. He however called for the revitalisation of the Freight Forwarders Consultative Forum as provided in the CRFFN Act, which provides a platform where all freight forwarders can be united to speak with one voice.
He also lamented that shipping companies and foreigners are gradually taking over the jobs of freight forwarders. He called for the intervention of the Transportation Ministry and CRFFN to help safeguard the job and profession of freight forwarders in Nigeria.
He told his guests: “We are on the same page with the CRFFN and the Ministry. We are always in line with the policies of CRFFN and the Ministry. AREFFN is a stabilising factor in the sector.
“We are very much at home with the POF. However, our members have been adequately paying their POF and the expectation was that individual declarant will have something, but we have not seen that yet”.
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On the CRRFN-arranged training for freight forwarders, Lawan said, “most of our members cannot go back to school for full-time training. We can only train them on the job. You have to make special arrangements to train them why they are still doing their work and making their living. We want the Transport Ministry through the CRFFN to provide adequate resources to do this. The reforms in the sector should be gradual and impress on them the importance of going through the whole process of becoming a registered freight forwarder.
Also speaking, the Transportation Minister who was represented by the Assistant Director, Maritime Services; Mr Donald Ekanem noted the essence of the visit was to seek for the welfare of all freight forwarders and to ensure they are all registered and paying up their dues.
While commending members of AREFFN for their compliance to the payment of POF, he charged all freight forwarders not to rest on their oars, but increase their level of compliance for the development of freight forwarders sector.
On his part, Director CRFFN Regulations and Enforcement, Mr Basil Opara informed that the visit will be on quarterly basis to ensure constant engagements with stakeholders in the industry.
Opara noted that some freight forwarders who have been fully complying to the payment of POF have already been given proceeds from their declaration. He however charged those who are yet to submit their account details to the Council, to do so.
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