Authorities define a freight forwarder as “a person or company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get large orders from the manufacturer or producer to market or final point of distribution.” The same source explains further that “a forwarder is not typically a carrier, but is an expert in supply chain management. In other words, a freight forwarder is a "travel agent," for the cargo industry, or a third-party (non-asset-based) logistics provider.
Authorities define a freight forwarder as “a person or company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get large orders from the manufacturer or producer to market or final point of distribution.” The same source explains further that “a forwarder is not typically a carrier, but is an expert in supply chain management. In other words, a freight forwarder is a "travel agent," for the cargo industry, or a third-party (non-asset-based) logistics provider.
They also define freight forwarding as the process that guarantees “that products will get to the proper destination by an agreed upon date, and in good condition. The freight forwarding service utilizes established relationships with carriers of all kinds, from air freighters and trucking companies, to rail freighters and ocean liners. Freight forwarding services negotiate the best possible price to move the product along the most economical route by working out various bids and choosing the one that best balances speed, cost and reliability.
Going by the above definitions and explanations, one can safely conclude that majority of those who currently parade themselves as freight forwarders are at best, licensed customs agents who only scratch the surface of the freight forwarding profession.
There is also no doubt about the fact that more than 70 percent of those who have been registered as professional freight forwarders by the CRFFN are actually ‘clearing agents’. The same CRFFN has also registered five freight forwarding g associations. They are: Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) and the National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC).
The Council of Managing Directors is as old as NAGAFF, but its potential has been stunted by the ambition of its leaders. At the moment, it has two ‘Presidents’.
While NAFFAC is domiciled at the airport, AREFFN is at the seaport. But, both are almost inconsequential, dwarfed by the numerical strength, popularity and acceptability of both ANLCA and NAGAFF.
As far as many stakeholders are concerned, there are only two associations; others only took advantage of the constitution of Nigeria which allows for freedom of association.
By all means, both ANLCA and NAGAFF are the dominant associations.
And when recently, licensed customs agents teamed up at Lagos port to tackle a ‘common enemy’; the APM Terminal, the superiority of both ANLCA and NAGAFF came to the fore.The duo became the rallying point for others. It was so clear that the others were only brought into give them a sense of belonging.
Historically, it is apt to state again that ANLCA is the progenitor of other associations. The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents came out of ANLCA in 1998 and NAGAFF also came forth in 1999.
But, the new found love and camaraderie being enjoyed by both NAGAFF and ANLCA is only for convenience. It is very obvious that it is a marriage of interest, in which case, separation can come up any time.
Sadly, events of last week have shown very clearly that, NAGAFF is perhaps the weaker partner, only needed when number is required, or when there is a common enemy to fight.
We recall that when ANLCA’s national secretariat, which was named after the Customs Comptroller General, was commissioned, NAGAFF kicked against what it perceived as favouritism on the part of the Customs boss; Dikko Abdulahi Inde. The association accused him of providing huge funding for the ANLCA secretariat; it demanded its own share of the cake.
And last week too, NAGAFF also kicked against the attempt by ANLCA to turn its secretariat into a compulsory training centre for all licensed customs agents. It was in reaction to a statement that was credited to ANLCA in which it said that training at its secretariat is one of the prerequisites for renewal of licenses.
From all indications, NAGAFF may have shot itself in the foot by its fraternity with ANLCA, a development which is credited to its incumbent president; Dr Eugene Nweke. It was Nweke, who went all out to ‘befriend’ ANLCA.
While the maritime industry has benefited from the alliance between the two associations, it is not very clear if ultimately, NAGAFF is better-off than it was about five years ago when it had no ‘diplomatic relationship’ with ANLCA.
Discussion about this post