ANLCA, NAGAFF tackle govt. nominee for CRFFN chair

ABIOLA Seun        |         

The election of the chairman of the Council for Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has taken a new dimension as Abubakar Tssani, a supposed anointed candidate for the position is facing stiff opposition from clearing agents elected to the board. 

Tssani, is one of the six appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to the board of the council earlier in the year but freight forwarders have expressed stiff opposition to his candidacy. 

Investigation has revealed that Tssani who is coming from the federal government side as an exporter is most qualified to run and win the chairmanship position but National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and Association of Nigerian Liscenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) have also fielded candidates for the position.

It was gathered that while NAGAFF is pushing Ifeayin Ekemezie forward,  ANLCA is canvasing support for a former President Sanni Shittu. 

It was further learnt that notable freight forwarders are not happy that Abubakar who is believed to have registered less than a month ago with the CRFFN wants to become the chairman of the Governing Board.

Abubakar with registration number Rffi 004245 according to a source close to CRFFN registered about three weeks ago (June 21).

The source told our Correspondent that he was encouraged to register in the Council for the purpose of becoming the Chairman of the Council.

The source added that he enjoys support from the CRFFN leadership as well as few notable leaders in other associations.

Recall that the Council which has been without a governing board for six years elected members into the  Governing Council in Lagos recently.

The newly-elected CRFFN officials were drawn from the five registered freight forwarding associations, comprising of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarding (NAGAFF), Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA). 

Others are the National Association of Air Freight Forwarding and Consolidation (NAFFAC) and Association of Registered Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (ARFFN).

The 15 newly elected officials comprised of six each from ÑAGAFF and ANLCA and one each from ARFFN, NCMDLCA and NAFFAC.

A breakdown of the vote cast showed that in the Western Ports,  the total number of accredited voters was 271, 237 candidates voted, while 34 ballot papers were unused. Two members of NAGAFF, Ifeanyi Ekemezie scored 114 votes, while Increase Uche scored 102 votes. 

ANLCA candidates; Peter Obi got 9 votes, Peter Obi scored 9 votes and Ozo Chukwura got 7 votes. Candidate of National Council of Managing Directors, Austen Kelly got 3 votes.

At the eastern ports, two NAGAFF candidates, Eze Chi Grace scored 51 while Tochukwu Emmanuel got 47. ANLCA’s Farinto Kayode got 3 votes,  Henry Njokwu 8 votes while Daura Lawal from AREFFN got 1 vote. 

The elected clearing agents would be joined by 17 government appointees to form the full fledged council which would subsequently guide and administer the body for a four year tenure.

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