APFFLON Writes Ameachi, Expresses Concerns Over Delay in Conduct of CRFFN Elections

…Wants Probe Report of Registrar; Samuel Nwakohu Public

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has expressed concerns over the delays in conducting fresh elections into the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN)

In a letter to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, signed by the President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, the association equally urged the Minister to make public, the probe report of investigation bordering on fraud, allegedly committed by the Registrar of CRFFN, Barr Samuel Nwakohu.

A copy of the letter obtained by DAILY TREND NEWS shows that APFFLON is worried about the vacuum that had existed in the freight forwarders regulatory body since the expiration of tenure of the last governing council members.

In the letter, the association stated that “While we recognize and appreciate the concerted efforts of the Ministry towards achieving a peaceful, transparent and credible election for the Governing Board of Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), as a body of professional freight forwarders, we do urge the Honorable Minister to intensify efforts towards the successful elections to avoid a vacuum in the Governing Council given the track record of the humongous challenges and setbacks during the last era of CRFFN without a Governing Board.

“It is indeed our expectation that this Governing Council election is scheduled in the first or second quarter of 2022 to set the tempo for professionalism and further enhance the development of freight forwarding practice in the nation.

“We, at APFFLON, our expectation and indeed the expectation of every well-meaning stakeholder in the sector is a free and fair CRFFN Governing Board election which is expected to crystalize a radical change in the industry from the aspect of freight forwarding.

“APFFLON also recalls that eight months ago the Ministry of Transportation began investigations on the numerous atrocities allegedly perpetuated by the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Barr. Samuel Nwakohu, and we encourage the Ministry to reveal its findings”

“Industry stakeholders have remarked, rightly so, that the covert investigations carried out by Mr. Muhiy-deen Awwal, Director, Human Resources Management, Ministry of Transportation, will continue to raised more uncertainty among freight forwarding practitioners in the nation, if the findings remain unknown.

“Amid debates on the opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), there is a massive role in the transport and logistics component that freight forwarding practitioners are expected to address, but a vibrant CRFFN with a Governing Board in place, would expedite the process of unveiling the role of Nigerian freight forwarders.

“At this point, let us reiterate that we strongly believe in the ability of the Minister’s ncompromising stance on the conduct of a ranchor free CRFFN Governing Board election, as well as your supervisory role on the affairs of CRFFN” it concluded