Dr Segun Musa Hosts CRFFN Registrar, Calls for Synergy Among ANLCA, NAGAFF, Transport Unions

—Says CRFFN Must End Fragmentation, Engage Politicians Before Elections

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe, has paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Segun Musa, Chairman and Managing Director of Widescope Logistics International, at the company’s office in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.

The visit, which took place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, focused on building stronger collaboration among maritime industry stakeholders and bridging the gap between the private and public sectors.

During the engagement, Dr. Musa who is also a Vice President, Air and Logistics of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) emphasized the critical need for synergy among various stakeholders in the maritime industry, arguing that fragmentation has weakened the sector’s voice in policy-making.

“What stops NAGAFF, ANLCA, and other associations from forming a very strong, formidable group? Whatever you are looking at should be secondary. The primary is the industry,” Dr. Musa stated.

He stressed that unity among freight forwarders, maritime workers, transport unions, and other industry players would give them stronger negotiating power with government officials.

“If you are able to form synergy with the associations, with the freight forwarders group, with the labor workers, with transport union, and you select among yourselves as technical groups and say we want to see the minister, let me see the minister that will not give you audience,” he said.

Dr. Musa lamented that ministers prefer consulting external advisers who know close to nothing about the industry, rather than engaging genuine stakeholders.

He praised the CRFFN Registrar for visiting the Maritime Workers Union, describing it as the starting point, and urged him to extend such visits to transport groups, haulage operators, and other industry bodies.

“You must be the one that will bring everybody to the same table. Let everybody know that the role is linked to each other. That staging is very essential,” Dr. Musa told Igwe.

The Widescope boss also called on industry stakeholders to remain politically neutral and focus on engaging political aspirants before elections to influence policy direction.

“You must not affiliate to political parties. You must not be partisan. You must be neutral. What interests you most is whoever is coming on board, you can engage them before they come. Let us see their policy drive,” he advised.

He cited examples of how chambers of commerce, manufacturing associations, and medical groups engage political candidates, questioning why the maritime sector remains passive.

“Go and see our population. We that work in both maritime and aviation transport. Go and see our population. So how do we call their attention if they fail to do whatever will prosper our sector? You must engage them,” Dr. Musa said.

He assigned CRFFN a pivotal role as the bridge between industry stakeholders and government, urging the council to organize constituency engagements with political aspirants.

“You represent a lot of interests. Your office represents a lot of interests. And you must take it. You may drive between us and governments. So that synergy must always be there,” he told the Registrar.

Dr. Musa argued that strong synergy between the private and public sectors would accelerate economic growth, blaming the current “open circuits” between both sectors for slow development.

In his remarks, Registrar Igwe praised Dr. Musa’s exceptional perspective and insights into the industry, describing him as one of the rare few who command significant influence.

“I admire your great insights and the depth, how you have amassed yourself in the industry. There are very rare few that I can say who attract a crowd in the way you do,” Igwe said.

The CRFFN Registrar, who previously worked with Dr. Musa during their time in NAGAFF, acknowledged the support he has received from the logistics expert and pledged continued collaboration.

“Those times we were in NAGAFF together, I liked one or two things and I put them in practice. Those are what form part of my strength. The job is not easy. But then, it does not have to be easy. Because if it is easy, anybody can do it,” Igwe stated.

He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to visit, noting that he was determined to make the trip despite missing the previous week’s schedule.