POF COLLECTION: Transport Ministry Begins Investigation of CRFFN Operations, Inspection of Five Registered Associations

…APFFLON Kicks, Laments Exclusion

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has announced that it is embarking on an assessment of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) operations, as well as on-the-spot-assessment visit to the five Accredited Associations of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria.

DAILY TREND confirmed this through a letter with reference number MT2120/527/1/140 dated 1st June, 2023, addressed to the five CRFFN Accredited Associations of Freight Forwarders and signed by Ewache A. Victor, Deputy Director, Inland Container Depot, for Honourable Minister of Transportation, notifying the CRFFN and five associations of the approval of Honourable Minister and the Officers of Maritime Services Department of the Ministry and officers of Council for the Joint assessment visit.

The assessment visit, according to the Federal Ministry of Transportation, is aimed at monitoring compliance of the collection of Practitioners Operating Fee (POF) and will also enable the Ministry identify challenges and possibly intervene to smoothen and engender a convenient ambience for a seamless International trade facilitation.

According to the ministry, officers from the Ministry will be visiting offices in Lagos from 19TH – 215T June, 2023 for on-the-spot assessment to the five Accredited Associations of Freight Forwarders.

The visiting officers are; Ewache A. Victor – Deputy Director (ICD) Solomon D. Zaks – CEO (ICD), Abua 0. Columba – CAO (ICD) and Ayaruja Matthew – ACMO (ICD)

“You are requested to nominate your officers to join the above mentioned officers of the Ministry for the Assessment Visits and provide logistics to ease their assignment” the letter addressed to one of the accredited associations stated

Meanwhile, the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has kicked against the deliberate violation of CRFFN Act and Freedom of Association by the Transportation Ministry.

According to a press release issued by its President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite on Monday, he said

“Our attention has been drawn to a letter with Reference number – MT2120/527/1/140 dated 1st June, 2023, addressed to the five CRFFN Accredited Associations of Freight Forwarders and signed by Ewache A. Victor, Deputy Director, Inland Container Depot, for Honourable Minister of Transportation”

“APFFLON wishes to call the attention of the Federal Ministry of Transportation to Nigerian constitution that allows Freedom of associations and the CRFFN Act under Section 19 where it unambiguously states the three membership categories of the Council to include Associations, Corporate entities and Individuals

“We are appalled by the deliberate marginalization of other Associations, Corporate entities and individuals by the Ministry while it is obvious that the Accredited Associations amount to only 30% of port users.

“For the Federal Ministry of Transportation to sideline other categories and decides to embrace only one of the categories which is the freight forwarding Associations is a breach of the CRFFN Act and attempt to cause anarchy in the industry” Ogunojemite warned