The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has been allocated ₦1.75 billion in the 2025 budget, with a significant portion earmarked for personnel costs, overhead expenses, and capital projects.
Despite the funding, concerns persist over the council’s efficiency, leadership crisis, and absence of a governing council, unlike other agencies in the maritime sector, which now have duly-constituted boards.
Findings reveal that ₦780.3 million has been set aside for personnel costs in 2025; covering salaries, allowances, and pensions. This includes ₦673 million for salaries and wages, ₦107 million for allowances and social contributions, ₦33 million for health insurance under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and ₦66 million for pension contributions. Overhead and administrative expenses account for ₦270 million, covering travel, utilities, security, training, and maintenance. Key expenditures include ₦57.5 million for travel, ₦14.9 million for electricity and internet, ₦17.2 million for office and vehicle maintenance, ₦27.4 million for security and fumigation, and ₦25 million for consultancy and financial services.
Other notable costs include ₦72.3 million for publicity and honorariums, as well as ₦14 million for fuel and lubricants.
For capital projects, ₦700 million has been allocated, with ₦260 million designated for the rehabilitation of the Nigerian Institute of Freight Forwarders, ₦73.1 million for office furniture and equipment, ₦100 million for training freight forwarders, ₦75 million for human capital development focused on revenue generation, and ₦22 million for evaluating council operations.
Despite these allocations, industry stakeholders have questioned whether the council can justify its budget, given its history of inefficiency and leadership crises.
Concerns have also emerged following the exclusion of the CRFFN Governing Council from the recent reconstitution of maritime agency boards under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently appointed board chairmen for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and other federal agencies. However, the CRFFN has been without a Governing Council for more than two years, raising questions about the council’s autonomy and structure.
Former CRFFN Governing Council member, Mr. Increase Uche, described the situation as troubling, stressing that CRFFN is a professional regulatory body and should not be subjected to political interference. He noted that past government decisions, including the dissolution of the council, had disrupted its operations. He warned that if political influence continues to override professional representation, the integrity of the council will be further eroded.
Another former CRFFN council member, who spoke anonymously, expressed concerns over the council’s budget allocation, particularly regarding the effective utilization of funds for staff salary payments and the Practitioners Operating Fee (POF) revenue. The source indicated that while freight forwarders continue to pay the POF, the absence of a properly constituted governing council raises doubts about accountability and financial management within the CRFFN.
An insider in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy clarified that the ministry does not appoint the governing council members for the CRFFN. The source explained that while the presidency appoints board chairmen for agencies like NPA, NIWA, and NIMASA, CRFFN’s case is unique, as it operates as both a regulatory agency and a professional council.
