CRFFN Registrar Visits AMATO Secretariat, Pledges to Safeguard Haulage Jobs for Nigerians
Registrar of CRFFN, Kingsley Igwe (left) receives an appreciation award from the President of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi during a courtesy visit of CRFFN top echelon to AMATO secretariat in Apapa on Friday
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Mr Kingsley Igwe on Friday, 21st March 2025, paid a working visit to the Secretariat of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) even as he assured that the Council is working to ensure that foreigners do not take over haulage jobs in the country.
Igwe, accompanied by top management staff of the Council, met with AMATO President, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, executive members of the association and other critical members the trucking community.
He expressed deep acknowledgement and appreciation for AMATO’s dedicated leadership, invaluable contributions to the growth and efficiency of the maritime and logistics industry.
in his keynote address during the visit, the CRFFN Registrar expressed the council’s resolve to ensure that the Nigerian indigenization policy is pursued and streamlined to protect haulage jobs from being taken over by foreigners.
He also offered to collaborate with AMATO to coordinate the activities of the maritime haulage sector in tandem with professionalism
According to the CRFFN Registrar, the Council is ready to organise training for truck owners and drivers in other to inculcate the knowledge of international best practices that would enable them to operate even outside the shores of Nigeria.
“Acertificate of training to be issued upon completion of such trainings rooted in international curriculum. Training priority to be given to AMATO for accepting to register with CRFFN in an open request” Igwe assured
While responding, the AMATO President, Chief Remi Ogungbemi appreciated the courtesy visit by the CRFFN Registrar.
He promised to strengthen synergy and collaboration with CRFFN on port users training program, in order to infuse and promote professionalism in maritime haulage business.
According to him, this would be in line with global best practice to enable truckers to serve efficiently and profitably in the industry.
Additionally, AMATO expressed its readiness to collaborate with CRFFN to end the arrest of members trucks by the Nigeria Customs Service due to false declaration by clearing agents and importers.
The association promises to support the implementation of national simple window policy of federal government and full automation of ports access systems to promote trade facilitation, ease of doing business, block sources of revenue loss, accelerate cargo clearance and increase truck turn around time.
AMATO also used the opportunity of the meeting to present appreciation award to the CRFFN Registrar in recognition of his ongoing commitment at regulating and controlling the practice of freight forwarding in Nigeria.
