There is no doubting the fact that the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has had a very tortuous existence since it was ‘born’ about five years ago.
It has the unenviable record of being the most troubled agency under the ministry of transport. First, it had challenges taking-off after its Act was signed into law by former President Olusegun Obasanjo was inaugurated and after it was inaugurated, it had challenges taking-off, so much that it was not until a registrar was appointed that things started taking shape.
There is no doubting the fact that the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has had a very tortuous existence since it was ‘born’ about five years ago.
It has the unenviable record of being the most troubled agency under the ministry of transport. First, it had challenges taking-off after its Act was signed into law by former President Olusegun Obasanjo was inaugurated and after it was inaugurated, it had challenges taking-off, so much that it was not until a registrar was appointed that things started taking shape.
It had fought legal battle of over its status, and about the legality of its leadership, it has survived all.
The various litigations and associations’ ego-tripping did not allow the registrar to have an effective understanding of the council. It was also not until a new governing council chairman in the person of Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju was elected that a new lease of life started manifesting in the council; a new road map was charted, while programmes started being implemented.
It was at this point that the CRFFN became a member of the global International Federation of Freight Forwarding Associations (FIATA), completed the membership register and also followed it up with a grand induction of about 4,000 registered individual and corporate members. And after this, the much-awaited training of the trainers TOT) programme also took place.
And the registrar, Sir Mike Jukwe has also topped it with a visitation to the national secretariat of the two registered associations.
All these are meant to further put the council on a sustainable footing by drawing it closer to its immediate constituents.
It is therefore sad to observe that it is being stifled by its implementing/supervisory agency; that is the ministry of transport , which from all that are already in the public domain has suddenly turned its back on the CRFFN; am agency that was created by an Act of the National Assembly.
Some questions are germane at this point. What has the CRFFN or its leadership done to warrant its being staffed of funds, what has gone wrong between the ministry and its agency that would warrant the sudden frosty relationship. The answer is simple – it is a clash of personal interests that have been elevated to the level of official intimidation.
There is only one solution to this face-off, and that is that the Council must seek a political solution. And there is only one way to achieve this, and that is by seeking the intervention of the National Assembly whose Act established the council.
On its part, the two chambers should call the ministry to order. If the council was established by law, it must be allowed to operate, and this can only be possible if funds are provided. It is disturbing that there has been no appropriation for the council for two years, so how does it continue to exist and meet its obligation to its members.
Accusing fingers are being pointed at the permanent secretary, Engr Nebolisa Emodi and not the minister who has(curiously) cooperated and encouraged the CRRF until the new permanent secretary came on board.
It behoves on the National Assembly to intervene and call the ministry(or better still, the permanent secretary) to order. For as long as the CRFFN remains a regulatory agency under the ministry of transport, it must be provided for like others.
Discussion about this post