CRFFN Sets to Deregister Erring Freight Forwarding Associations

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has said that it would deregister some accredited freight forwarding associations who do not meet up the guidelines laid down by the Council in line with Section 4(1) SI NO 35 of Regulation 2010.

Chairman of CRFFN, Alhaji Tsanni Abubakar states this on Thursday at 26th meeting of the CRFFN Governing Council held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

DAILY TREND learnt that according to the CRFFN Act, terms for accrediting freight forwarding associations includes; having spread across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, an operational bus, a functional Secretariat, membership strength among other requirements.

However, findings by our correspondent showed that only two out of the five registered associations currently registered with CRFFN have met these requirements. These two are; Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF)

After approving the establishment of seventeen (17) standing committees for effective running of the Council, the CRFFN Chairman stated that henceforth, the Council would strive to improve the practice and opportunities for all registered accredited associations at all times.

Alhaji Tsanni assured that the Freight Forwarders Consultative Forum (FFCF) under the Council would be encouraged to focus on the development of freight forwarders and freight forwarding industry, transport and logistics industry in Nigeria.

He said “we will also ensure that the Committee on Registration and the CRFFN management continue to interact with accredited associations from time to time to register members, monitor electoral process towards ensuring compliance to CRFFN Act.”

“They should also ensure cordial relationship with the leadership of the accredited associations on how best to move forward the freight forwarding industry in Nigeria now and beyond. The Registration Committee and the management of CRFFN should ensure that minimum educational qualification of practicing freight forwarding business in Nigeria is hereby enforced for compliance.

“While we will strive to improve the practice and opportunities for all registered accredited associations at all times, it has to be emphasized as provided for in Section 4(1) SI NO 35 of Regulation 2010, any association that does not meet up with the guidelines as provided for in the Regulation will face deregistration by the Council. We will furthermore be ready to go with the entire international regulatory bodies in our efforts to promoting the Nigerian freight forwarding industry” he added.

Also speaking, the Registrar of the Council, Barr. Samuel Nwakohu stated that the CRFFN has five (5) accredited associations, six thousand and eighty-nine (6,089) individuals and one thousand, five hundred and twenty-six (1,526) corporate organizations registered as at 11th June, 2022.

According to him, “There is a Register of all legitimate freight forwarders in the country and the Register is updated periodically as prescribed by the enabling Act. The Register has five (5) accredited associations, six thousand and eighty-nine (6,089) individuals and one thousand, five hundred and twenty-six (1,526) corporate organizations as at 11th June, 2022.

“We successfully carried out two batches of Executive Professional Diploma in Freight Forwarding (EPD) in collaboration with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 2021. EPD is an intensive executive class designed for the executive cadre in the industry. Presently, we have over seventy (70) freight forwarding executives trained via the Executive Diploma in freight forwarding. We are also working on running the programme across the country in conjunction with appropriate Education Service Providers (ESPs).