The Chairman and Managing Director of Widescope Logistics International, Dr. Segun Musa, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the maritime industry, following a courtesy visit by the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mr. Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe, to his Ogba, Lagos office on Tuesday.
The meeting centred on the need to deepen cooperation across the sector and improve engagement between the private and public sectors.
Dr. Musa, who also serves as Vice President, Air and Logistics of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), stressed that disunity among industry groups has continued to weaken their influence on policy formulation. He questioned why associations such as NAGAFF, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and transport unions could not operate on a common platform, arguing that a united front would significantly strengthen their bargaining power with government.
According to him, effective synergy among freight forwarders, maritime workers and transport unions would improve access to policymakers and ensure that the industry’s views are properly represented.
He also criticised the tendency of government officials to rely on external advisers rather than engaging directly with practitioners, urging the CRFFN Registrar to strengthen ties with unions, haulage operators and transport groups. Dr. Musa further advised stakeholders to remain politically neutral while engaging political aspirants ahead of elections in order to influence policy direction in favour of the industry.
“Do not be partisan. Engage whoever is coming, understand their policy drive and ensure the industry’s interests are protected,” he said.
He described CRFFN as a critical bridge between the industry and government, urging the council to take the lead in coordinating stakeholder engagement, adding that weak collaboration has continued to slow the sector’s development and broader economic growth.
In his response, Registrar Igwe commended Dr. Musa for his depth of experience and influence in the industry, describing him as one of the few professionals with a strong grasp of freight forwarding practice. He recalled their time together in NAGAFF, acknowledging Dr. Musa’s role in his professional development and pledged to sustain collaboration.
Igwe thanked Dr. Musa for the engagement and reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with key stakeholders to strengthen the maritime sector.
