CRFFN to blacklist unregistered practitioners.

… says only 64 out of 787freight forwarders are practicing legally

Peter Olaniyi |

The Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Barr Sam Nwakohu, has said the Council will soon backlist unregistered freight forwarders operating at the Nation’s seaport.

Nwakohwu yesterday during a press briefing informed that only 64 out of 787 freight forwarders are currently practicing legally at the Nigerian ports and borders across the country.

He also announced the enforcement of Practitioners’ Operating Fee (POF), which took off on Monday across the Western ports, saying the Council would publish the names of freight forwarders who are legally practicing and blacklist the unregistered practitioners.

He said “As of today, we only have about 64 freight forwarders whose payments and subscriptions are up to date in line with the law regulating the freight forwarding practising in Nigeria.

“These are the people we can validly call freight forwarders as at today. We will be updating that list as more people pay their subscriptions to the CRFFN.

“On our register, we have 787 names of freight forwarders that are practising at the ports and borders, but only 64 are practicing legitimately as at today.

“We will be publishing the names of freight forwarders whose subscriptions are up to date very soon on our website.

“These are the only legitimate freight forwarders currently practising at our ports and borders”, the CRFFN Registrar declared.

Speaking further, he said that following successful integration with terminal operators in western ports, enforcement of Practitioners’ Operating Fee (POF) collection has now commenced.

According to him, the POF, which is derived from the provisions of section 6 of CRFFN Act, is a major source of the Council’s internally generated revenue, first for the government and second to drive the necessary reforms and develop the industry, adding that anybody or organisation that fails to pay the necessary fees is working against the reforms and development of the industry.

He said the laws to collect the POF have been made by government, and whoever decides that he or she won’t pay, then such person will not take his or her cargo out of the ports.

He added: “Integration with terminal operators in the Eastern ports is on-going and we shall communicate you accordingly with respect to enforcement of same in the Eastern ports.

“The user public is strongly advised to verify the authenticity of the freight forwarder they wish to engage on CRFFN website.

“This is to ensure you are dealing with a registered freight forwarder.

“We really want to appreciate the body of shippers and freight forwarders who operate under very difficult conditions to keep Nigeria moving.

“The CRFFN will do her best to provide the enabling environment for the freight forwarding industry. As a regulator, we are committed to promoting a conducive environment for your business.”