After a week-long intensive training exercise, the Council For the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has successfully produced the first batch of its trained enforcement officers for the western zone that will henceforth uphold the provisions of the law enabling the council at seaports and land borders.
After a week-long intensive training exercise, the Council For the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has successfully produced the first batch of its trained enforcement officers for the western zone that will henceforth uphold the provisions of the law enabling the council at seaports and land borders.
Speaking at the passing out ceremony which held at the Lagos office of the council yesterday, Registrar of the Council, Sir Mike Jukwe explained that the officers have been drilled physically and theoretically by men of the Nigerian Army Intelligent Unit in Apapa, Lagos.
According to him, the officers were trained on physical education, characters and functions of enforcement officers, arrest and investigation. Others include the CRFFN Act No. 16 of 2007, use of tools and equipment for enforcement, self defense mechanism among others.
The occasion was graced by Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Capt. Adamu Biu, the Chairman of Ports Consultative Council (PCC) Otunba Kunle Folarin, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Transport and presidents of the registered freight forwarding associations.
Sir Jukwe pointed out that after the training, the 23 trained officers will immediately be dispatched to their different areas of operations. According to him, with the constitution of these enforcement committees, “only registered and inducted freight forwarders as well as accredited associations of freight forwarders are allowed to practice forth-with or else the hand of the law will grip and prosecute offenders; this heralds the enforcement of the Act”.
Chairman Governing Council of CRFFN, Alhaji Akeem Olanrewaju after inspecting the guard command reiterated that, apart from the successful completion of the training, the council has also compiled the maiden register of freight forwarders and has successfully held the first Training-of-the-Trainers (TOT) programme.
In his address, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Capt Adamu Biu expressed happiness at the level of progress recorded in the CRFFN especially in the area of training of freight forwarders.
He said that in-spite of all the challenges recorded in the beginning there has been a show of discipline.
He recalled that the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice inaugurated the Freight Forwarders investigative panel and Freight Forwarders Disciplinary Tribunal on April 30, 2011.
A member of CRFFN Governing Council who represented the Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr Danjuma Dauda said that in spite of the teething problems, the council was able to deliver on its mandate.
“I thank ports stakeholders, who have over the years stood firmly behind the council, the Nigerian Shippers Council and the NIMASA for making useful contributions to the council,’’ Dauda said.
“In the beginning when the Federal Government saddled the Nigerian Shippers’ Council with the responsibility of midwifing this organization and bringing it into fruition, the task fell on my colleagues and I in the council, let me make a confession, the first thing I did was to pray to Almighty God to guide us and make it a success because I know that the freight forwarding industry is as complex as it can be, but I am proud that today we are where we are” Capt. Biu said.
Capt. Biu further explained that nobody can succeed in the maritime industry without the services of a trained freight forwarder.
Also speaking at the event, Otunba Kunle Folarin said that the CRFFN has really been a plus to the Nigerian freight forwarding industry which he described as turbulent, but added that the CRFFN has been able to calm it down. He pledged the maximum support of the Port Consultative Council to the CRFFN.
“Freight forwarders in Nigeria do not know the value of themselves, you are the most important angle in freight forwarding business and also in the economy of the maritime industry, without the cargo there will be no shipping, without shipping there will be no ports” Otunba said.
The event was witnessed by the national presidents of both ANLCA and NAGAFF; Prince Olayiwola Shittu and Mr Eugene Nweke respectively as well as their counterparts from Council of Managinmg Directors, NAFFAC and AREFF.
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