The Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) said it has secured a total of 3,400 certificates for registered members of the council.
Some of the certificates which serve as the authentication for genuine freight forwarders were presented to some notable registered freight forwarders at the council’s office in Lagos on Tuesday.
Registrar of the CRFFN, Barrister. Sam Nwakohu, while presenting the certificates noted that the council has been slow on the issuance of the certificates but said the delay was as a result of the procurement process.
He informed that about 3400 certificates are now ready while urging registered members to come and collect their certificates.
He however informed that those who registered with the council three years ago, will still have to wait a while before they can get the certificates, but said the council is working assiduously to ensure that the certificates are issued soon.
According to him, “We’ have been working on this certificate issue for a while, you know our Act says we must give the registered freight forwarders, so since it’s a provision of the Act, we needed to give them the certificate to show that they are registered freight forwarders.
“Out of the registered freight forwarders we have, I have been informed by the Director of Regulations and Enforcement, that about 3400 certificates are ready and we have asked some notable people in the industry to come and pick their certificate”.
“We will make sure that everyone who is entitled to one, gets it and for the people whose owns are not ready we will work very hard to make sure that they get theirs” he said.
Also speaking, the Director Regulations and Enforcement of the Council, Mr Bassil Opara, informed that out of 4260 individual registered freight forwarders and about 1360 for corporate members, the council was able to secure the 3400 certificates but however said the certificates will only be given to those who have paid their dues up to date.
“Others won’t get their certificate unless their dues are paid, from tomorrow others may start coming to collect”, he added.
“Out of the registered freight forwarders from 2010 to 2017 these are the people that their certificates are ready, corporate and individual together.
“We have about 4,260 individual registered freight forwarders and about 1,360 for corporate. others wont get their certificate unless their dues is paid, from tomorrow others may start coming to collect”, he said.
Speaking shortly after collecting his certificate, the Vice President Association of Nigeria License Customs Agent (ANLCA) Dr. Kayode Farinto, who commended the registrar and his team for a job well done, informed that the certificate legitimizes whatever a freight forwarder may be doing in the port and that without the certificate you can’t be recognized as a freight forwarder.
“I am happy because these legitimizes whatever we are doing in the port, because whoever claims to be a freight forwarder in the port and you are not recognized by the CRFFN, he is not a freight forwarder.
“So this is legitimizing whatever we are doing in the port. I commend the registrar and his management team for this laudable efforts and I will want to say, let this certificate be given from time to time, “he said.
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Also speaking the Chairman BoT of Association of Registered Freight Forwarders if Nigeria (ARFFN), Mr. Metu Ejike Augustine, said, “the certificate has taken my membership to the next level, I was standing with one leg before, but now that I have my certificate, my two legs are down. Most important thing is that we are privileged to have collected our own today, my prayer is that in no distance time every member be issued one” he said.
Another member of ARFFN who also spoke, Mr Obikezie Uchena Frank, also commended the council stating that the issuance of the certificates will go a long way to show that the council is working.
“It shows that something is happening in CRFFN, we are going to put it on our various platforms and this will encourage others that indeed something is happening in CRFFN.
“Because before now, some people feel that not much is happening, but with this, they will know things are happening. some people thought this certificate will never come but it has come. so I want to encourage them to continue to do what is supposed to be done in other to deepen the presence of the council in the port” he said.
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