.Basil Agboarumi, Managing Director, SAHCO Plc a subsidiary of SIFAX Group; Elijah Owolabi, Chairman, Apapa Local Government; Adewale Adeyanju, President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria; Oba Fatai Oyeyinka, Ojora of Ijora Land; Onari Brown, Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority; Adekunle Oyinloye, Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group; Princess Vicky Haastrup, Executive Vice Chairman, ENL Consortium and Chairperson, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) and Hakeem Odumosu, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, cutting the cake during the commissioning and unveiling of the new SIFAX Container Terminal, Ijora Causeway, Lagos last week.
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has reeled out qualifications for membership of the council.
In a circular that was released last week ahead of the commencement of collection of the Practitioners Of Operations Fees (POF), the CRFFN, also gave out the manes of academic institutions that have been accredited to train freight forwarders.
According to the Registrar, Barrister Sam Nwakohu, very soon, it will become difficult for non-certificated freight forwarders to practice in Nigeria.
The Council has also set December 31, 2021 as deadline for obtaining requisite qualification to practice freight forwarding.
It added that, “to avoid de-registration, all registered freight forwarders have until December 31st 2021 to be qualified”.
In the guideline, which was obtained by Shipping Position Daily, the CRFFN said that, “Subject to section 22 of the CRFFN Act, and to rules made under section 11 (4) of this Act, a person shall be entitled to be registered if:
i) He has attended a course of training approved by the Council under section 15 of this Act.
ii) The course was conducted at an institution approved by the Council
ii) He holds a qualification approved by the Council (Part IV section 13 (1) a-c)”.
The guideline also stated clearly that, “a person shall also be entitled to be registered under this Act if:
(a) He passes the qualifying examination conducted by an institution approved by the Council and completes the practical training prescribed; or
(b) Holds a qualification granted outside Nigeria and for the time being accepted by the Council and is by law entitled to practice for all purposes as a freight forwarder in the country in which the qualification was granted and, if the Council so requires, he satisfies the Council that he has had sufficient experience as a freight forwarder;
(c) He holds an approved degree in transport or maritime studies from a recognized higher institution and has passed the professional examinations approved by the Council”.
According to the CRFFN, “the minimum standard for practicing freight forwarding in Nigeria is the FIATA International Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management or its equivalent such as the Executive Professional Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management”.
It consequently listed the names of 17 institutions where professional qualification can be obtained
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