The much-expected reconciliatory meeting that was called by the minister of transport; Senator Idris Umar was deadlocked at the weekend as the minister reportedly requested for more time to consult more widely on the vexed issue of collection of transaction fees by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
The much-expected reconciliatory meeting that was called by the minister of transport; Senator Idris Umar was deadlocked at the weekend as the minister reportedly requested for more time to consult more widely on the vexed issue of collection of transaction fees by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
The minister had last week summoned the warring factions in the face-off, namely; the CRFFN, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) as well as the three other registered freight forwarding associations to a meeting in Abuja.
The meeting which had earlier been scheduled to hold on Thursday was later postponed to Friday, but there was no concrete achievement as those who attended the meeting told our correspondent that the minister requested for more time and more room for consultations.
“The status quo remains”, that was how one of those who attended the meeting summarised the outcome of the prolonged meeting the minister. It was earlier stated for 3pm, but when our correspondent called at about 6pm, it was yet to start as the invited guests were waiting for the minister. It however started with all the parties in attendance.
Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the minister expressed disappointment that the CRFFN and the registered associations allowed the matter to degenerate to that level.
He told them that he would be happy to see the matter resolved among the warring parties. He told them they should go and resolve their differences while he holds further consultations.
There are insinuations however that minister may be considering three options that were being canvassed. The first option was to seek the advice of the minister of finance on the implications of allowing CRFFN to collect the controversial levy, owing largely to complaints in some quarters that the fees represent additional levy on imported cargoes.
Sources hinted that the second option is to remove the suspension that he placed on the collection and direct the CRFFN and the freight forwarding associations to agree on a sharing formula.
The third option, we were told, is to out rightly call for elections into the governing council of the CRFFN.
Confirming the development, the chairman of CRFFN; Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju told our correspondent that, “we are all awaiting the outcome of the minister’s consultations”, even as he appealed to freight forwarders to remain calm.
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