16th August, 2010
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) says it has approved 2,046 out of 5,000 applications for the council’s membership.
Mr. Mike Jukwe, the Registrar of the Council, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday that 2, 954 applications could not meet registration requirements.
NAN reports that the Council regulates the movement of goods on behalf of importers and exporters at international boundaries, sea ports and airports.
Jukwe said that those who were registered had been in the business for more than three years and whose minimum educational qualifications were not less than Secondary School Certificates (SSC).
“The person (freight forwarder) must have attained the age of 21 and would not have been convicted of any crime within and outside the country.
“The implication of the registration process is that, if you are not registered with the CRFFN in accordance with the Council’s Act, you cannot practise in Nigeria.
“The regulation specifies that to be accepted as a forwarder, you must have been in the practice for at least three years.
“Once you have this qualification, experience and you have attained the age of 21 among others, then you are eligible to register,†Jukwe said.
He said the Freight Forwarders online registration process started on Feb. 15 with a N5,000 fee per application.
Jukwe noted that the Council since July 26 had been verifying applications, stressing that it would be completed on Aug. 28.
The Registrar said the list of successful applicants would be passed to the Governing Council for approval while the next registration exercise would begin in December to give opportunity to those who did not register earlier.
“What we are doing now is verification, because the registration was done online but now we have asked them to come and verify their claims.
“We advised them to take advantage of this period to get registered because we will monitor compliance and ensure effectiveness,†Jukwe said.
NAN reports that CRFFN, which was established in 2007, is mandated to regulate and control freight forwarders’ practices in Nigeria.