Apparently determined to ensure compliance with regulations governing freight forwarding practice in Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has concluded arrangements to inaugurate two very strategic committees.
The committees which are expected to be unfolded at the Council’s statutory annual general meeting (AGM) which holds on April 30, 2011 in Abuja are: Registered Freight Forwarders Tribunal and the Freight Forwarders Consultative Forum.
Apparently determined to ensure compliance with regulations governing freight forwarding practice in Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has concluded arrangements to inaugurate two very strategic committees.
The committees which are expected to be unfolded at the Council’s statutory annual general meeting (AGM) which holds on April 30, 2011 in Abuja are: Registered Freight Forwarders Tribunal and the Freight Forwarders Consultative Forum.
While the tribunal (which is disciplinary) will be inaugurated by the Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, the inauguration of the freight forwarders’ forum will be done by the minister of transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman.
Confirming the proposed programme in a Lagos at a media parley earlier in the week, the chairman of the governing council of CRFFN, Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju assured that the forthcoming inauguration will coincide with the Council’s annual general meeting as enshrined in the CRFFN Act.
Also speaking about the event, the Council’s registrar, Sir Mike Jukwe explained that while the freight forwarders’ tribunal will ensure discipline among registered freight forwarders, the consultative forum will be saddled with a lot of responsibilities; including fixing an agreeable freight forwarding charges collectable on all cargoes to be cleared from all entry points in Nigeria and engendering harmonious relationship among freight forwarders and other stakeholders in the industry.
The registrar also confirmed that the consultative forum will comprise of stakeholders drawn from across the board; including Shipping Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Seaports and Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, Importers Association of Nigeria, Ports Consultative Council, maritime journalists, among others.
“The AGM is a statutory, it must hold yearly and we are using this year’s event to unfold our programmes for our members, we are very optimistic that the committees which will be unfolded and empowered will also complement our efforts as a council, Jukwe added.
On his part, the Council’s chairman, disclosed that the controversial N250Million that was alleged to have been mismanaged by the Council was an uninformed allegation by mischief makers who are bent on dragging the name of CRFFN in the mud.
“The money in question was a grant from the government and the Council has fully accounted for it, it is impossible to embezzle that kind of money when one is not in a Banana Republic. We should stop thinking in the past, those who can not be accountable should stop thinking that everyone is likewise”, he stressed.
According to him, “every income and expenditure of the Council is statutorily subjected to the scrutiny of all the relevant organs; we could not have survived as Council without subjecting ourselves to regulation of our expenditure. Details of how the money in question was expended have since been submitted to the appropriate quarters”, he explained.
“I am surprised that about two years after the grant was given, some people are still raising dust, I think it is borne out of mischief, but we are not moved by this, our accounts are clean and we urge anyone who is in doubt to ask the relevant agencies to which we are accountable, the chairman pointed out even as he disclosed that the forthcoming AGM will offer the council and its registered members an opportunity to interact more closely and freely.
“Part of what the AGM will achieve is that it will afford everyone to ask questions, it will also offer the Council’s new governing council the opportunity of meeting face- to – face with registered freight forwarders since it was elected late last year”, he explained further.
He called for the understanding of freight forwarders, stressing his commitment to ensuring that all freight forwarders enjoy the privileged of training in modern-day freight forwarding practice in line with global standards as set by the International Federation of Freight Forwarders (FIATA).
According to him, in line with this, the much-expected training by FIATA will commence before the end of June. “We have already concluded arrangement to receive a delegation from FIATA to flag-off a training-the-trainer course in Nigeria, the team is expected in Nigeria soon”, he disclosed.
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