5th March, 2016
A former Chairman, Governing Council of Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju, said the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, had restored credibility of freight forwarding profession.
This is contained in a statement made available on Friday in Lagos by Olanrewaju, a copy of which was made available to NAN in Lagos.
The statement said that the minister deserved commendation for demonstrating exemplary leadership qualities and the political will toward resolving some lingering crises in the maritime sector.
“By doing this, the minister has rekindled the hope and professional confidence of freight forwarding practitioners as well as the credibility of the freight forwarding profession.
“This was via his recent directive at the Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria’s (MARCON) Seminar in Apapa, Lagos.
“The minister gave the directive recently at a seminar organised by the Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos.
“This directive is the needed tonic which we have craved for during the past administrative life of the CRFFN.
“In the same vein, I wish to also register my appreciation to members of the National Assembly, who, in the course of appraising the CRFFN’s 2016 Budget, were unanimous in their decision.
“Considering it worthy to evolve an instant extra-legislations, making it compulsory for practitioners and relevant stakeholders to comply with the relevant sections of the CRFFN Act, 16 of 2007,” the statement said.
The statement explained that individuals or groups’ activities could not be allowed to continuously subvert extant laws of the Federation and the Federal government of its dues and the much-needed internally-generated revenue.
“Basically, the whole essence of Act 16 of 2007 is to establish a Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria,” Olanrewaju, who is the Managing Director, Talod Oceanair Freight Ltd. said.
The statement noted that the council was charged with the responsibility, amongst others, of determining the standards of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons practicing or seeking to be a registered freight forwarder.
It expressed concern that the administration of the CRFFN continued to be resisted by a group who refused to be regulated because they contested and failed an election at the maiden election into the Governing Council.
The statement noted that those that failed were frustrating efforts to put the council on a strong footing.
“Most times, they instigate court actions all in a bid to stampede the CRFFN’s administration.
It stated that other challenges included entrenched interests, power tussle as well as non-payment of the annual professional subscription fees.
“When in 2010 to 2011, the Council opened its register and called for registration by practitioners. Over 5,000 freight forwarders picked forms for registration and close to 2,000 corporate firms completed the registration.
“But during and after accreditation processes, to date, just a little above 2,000 practitioners are said to have completed the registration exercise and accreditation processes and their names posted into the council’s register.
“In the same vein, a little above 4,000 corporate firms are in the register.
“Statistics available shows that out of the over 5,000 practitioners that completed registration process.
“Almost 65 per cent of those practitioners were West African Examination Council (WAEC) Certificate holders; 15 per cent had no certificates, while 5 per cent were qualified based on experiences.
The statement noted that 15 per cent were graduates.
It noted that 85 per cent of the figure understood the nitty-gritty of the import clearance processes.
The statement added that 55 per cent of the figure could neither describe, classify nor understood cargo valuation principles.
“Presently, less than 200 practitioners have availed themselves of the various opportunities aimed at empowering themselves, through attending the Mandatory Professional Training Programme; pursuance to the council’s regulatory instituted standards.
The statement urged all practitioners to join hands with the minister to revamp and strengthen the freight forwarding profession.
It appealed to leaders of freight forwarding associations “to bury their hatchets”, embrace professionalism and key into the window which the minister and the National Assembly offered as part of the “Change Agenda” of government.
“The general interest and survival of our profession should be paramount in the heart of every well -meaning leader of the association,” it added.