Arguably, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is the only agency in the Nigerian maritime industry that have been most bruised sadly however by its own immediate constituents; the freight forwarders.
Since its creation in 2007, the CRFFN has not enjoyed absolute peace; it has had to contend with freight forwarding associations and individual freight forwarders, at different times.
Arguably, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is the only agency in the Nigerian maritime industry that have been most bruised sadly however by its own immediate constituents; the freight forwarders.
Since its creation in 2007, the CRFFN has not enjoyed absolute peace; it has had to contend with freight forwarding associations and individual freight forwarders, at different times.
When it was created in 2007 via an Act of the National Assembly, the Council was conceived as the possible solution to the myriad of problems that were militating against freight forwarding and logistics in Nigeria.
Those who fought for its birth would never have envisaged that the council would shortly after its birth, be faced with ‘life-threatening’ issues, such as have forced it not to have a governing council for years running and also become so cash-strapped as not to be able to meet its obligations.
One of the first questions that its promoters may ask is; whether it was wrong (after all) to have fought for the creation of a body that would enhance the freight forwarding profession in Nigeria.
We recall vividly that after its berth, it took a long while to have a governing council and the pioneer governing council also spent most part of its two years brokering peace between it and some individuals and between it and some institutions.
History recalls that, at the earlier part of its existence, the Council was engaged by the factional national president, National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Lucky Amiwero.
Mr Amiwero had dragged the CRFFN, the minister of transport as well as the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to court over allegations of irregularities in the conduct of elections into the governing council in 2008.
The CRFFN, also at one time had issues with the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) over interpretation of the Act which established the Council.
There was also the face-off with an unregistered, body called the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association (IFFFA). The IFFFA had in a letter to International Federation of Freight Forwarding Associations (FIATA) allegedly instilled fear in FIATA, saying that the safety of its officials who were being expected for a train-the-trainer’s programme could not be guaranteed in Nigeria.
But the Council had a little respite, during the tenure of Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju as its chairman. During this time, he demonstrated uncommon ability to steer the ship of the council. This, he did going by the way he was able to reach a compromise with the NAGAFF during the face-off, and also in the manner in which he was able to tame the ‘renegades’ called IFFFA and the dogged manner in which he was able to pursue the FIATA’s train- the-trainers programme for freight forwarders.
He, along with the Council’s registrar; Sir Mike Jukwe and other members of the governing council was able to contain the various antics and intrigues which freight forwarders and freight forwarding associations are known for.
In fact, the Council was enjoying an apparently blissful relationship with all its constituents, until the peace was disrupted by the directive from the minister of transport; Senator Idris Umar to the CRFFN that the council could start collecting transaction fees on all imports into the country.
Since the approval became public knowledge, peace has eluded the freight forwarding family; it is so bad that members of the same association no longer trust one another.
It is a surprise that all efforts to end the feud have failed, including the intervention by the minister.
It was this mistrust that dovetailed into the dissolution of the former governing council, having served for the mandatory two years.
Without any equivocation, the last governing council should be held responsible for the fate that befell the CRFFN. The other accomplices are the leaders of the freight forwarding associations.
It is shameful that at the onset of the face-off, the CRFFN actually engaged its registered associations in a dirty fight over money.
We honestly commend the Council’s Registrar; Sir Mike Jukwe for his ability to hold on and ensure that the Council did not run aground , especially in the face of paucity of funds and various gang-ups against him and the council by varied interests.
The Council’s decision to move its head office from Abuja to Lagos may be the best decision that it has taken in recent times. The commissioning of the new office last week will certainly bring the Council closer to its constituents and redefine the Councils relationship with both the freight forwarding g associations, accredited training institutions and practicing freight forwarders in general.
We totally join our voice to those of well-meaning stakeholders who have appealed to the Minister of Transport; Senator Idris Umar to allow the CRFFN to collect the transaction fee on all imports into the country.
Collecting the fee will not only shore –up the Council’s revenue profile, it will also significantly assist it to perform its responsibilities to freight forwarders. Its hold on the registered freight forwarding associations and accredited training institutions will also be enhanced.
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