NAFFAC seeks review of CRFFN Act; sues for peace among freight forwarders

Segun Oladipupo

The Nigerian Association of Airfreight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC) has called for the review of the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) in order to amend some anomalies contained in the Act.

The President General of NAFFAC, Prince Adeyiinka Bakare made the call in Lagos during the week, saying the occupation of the Council’s board by staff of different agencies is not good enough.

He queried if other agencies have their board members from other agencies from different ministries.

According to him, members of the Council’s board are from ministries of education, finance, Customs, Shippers’ Council among other agencies.

He said that professionals freight forwarders ought to have more members in the board than appointees from other agencies and ministries.

He expressed worries over disagreement among practitioners, saying it is the reason they cannot take uniform decision.

He lamented that lack of unity among the freight agents is the reason CRFFN is representing freight forwarders in FIATA, saying it not the normal practice anywhere in the world.

The NAFFAC boss noted that the council has what it takes to generate the desired revenue for the federal government only if the practitioners can get it right with team spirit and collaboration, noting that the sharing formula must not be in the front burner .

According to him, regulation of the profession must be seen as the bedrock of a sustainable freight forwarding practice in Nigeria, even as he reiterated the need to review the Council’s act as against the board membership.

Bakare argued that the two years governing board membership tenure must be reviewed to allow innovation, adding that a quarterly meeting is not enough to work out modalities in resolving issues bothering on the profession.

Meanwhike, the association reiterated its commitment in ensuring peaceful coexistence among freight forwarding practitioners in the maritime sub sector .

NAFFAC stressed that the sharing formula of 6-6-1-1-1 as being debated by the five accredited associations by the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) must not be projected as priority, rather promoting the sustainability on how best the practitioners can build capacity and derive the necessary benefits of the profession.

President General of NAFFAC, Prince Adeyinka Bakare who disclosed this on Wednesday in Lagos, harped on the need for freight forwarders to speak with one voice in the actualisation of the Council’s mandates and policy formulations.

While taking a stand on behalf of the association, he said : “In as much as we are not comfortable with one, I think it is better for peace to reign and forge ahead.

“We need to move on . If we continue to argue on the sharing formula and CRFFN elections back and forth,who suffers?

“It is the freight forwarders that will continue to suffer, if we continue to argue about things that should not come first. I believe there is strength in the five associations coming together .

The NAFFAC President however, kicked against individual candidacy participation in the forthcoming elections.

Similarly, National Secretary General of NAFFAC, Mr. Shabi Alabi called on the registered freight forwarding associations to work in harmony despite their numerical strength .

The scribe pointed out that NAFFAC is majorly concerned about the progress of the industry .

Alabi said “NAFFAC is looking for the progress of the industry and we are not bothered about the sharing formula.

“There is no cause for alarm, we are not bothered about the sharing formula. There is strength in all of us coming together”,he added.