Northern Freight Forwarders laud Amaechi over Transportation University in Daura.

Funso Olojo |

Freight Forwarders of Northern extraction have commended the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi for what they described as his bold and patriot initiative in facilitating the siting of University of Transportation at Daura, the country home of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It would be recalled that President Buhari on Monday laid the foundation of the $50million (N18b) specialized institution said to be first of its kind in Africa.

Ventilating the appreciation of the freight Forwarders after their meeting in Abuja yesterday was Miftahu Ya’u, a frontline freight forwarder based in Kano.

Ya’u, a member of Freight Forwarders Investigation Panel of Council for Registration of Freight Forwarding Practice in Nigeria (CRFFN) and a former NAGAFF Vice President Northwest, Air logistics, Inland Container Depots/Dry ports, made the commendations after an extra-ordinary meeting of stakeholders of a select Northern freight forwarders in Abuja yesterday.

Recall that Ya’u was the only candidate of the 16 candidates screened by CRFFN to contest the last CRFFN Governing Board election who had not made it to the Council following his controversial disqualification by the screening committee three days to the election day.

The disqualification was as a result of sudden withdrawal of his nomination by NAGAFF, his association.

However, the youthful freight forwarder in a statement declared “we held the emergency meeting in order to salute the courage of the Transportation Minister RT. Hon Chibueke Rotimi Amaechi for an historic effort of facilitating the siting of the Transportation University in Daura at the right time when it is critical to have an institution of higher learning to produce indigenous future managers who would help maintain the various infrastructures under construction by the government of Muhammadu Buhari.

“We consider the choice of Daura city for the university as strategic and suitable for this noble venture which we believed was done for the good of the nation” Ya’u said.

He expressed hope that many transportation stakeholders from the Northern region who are lagging behind in the industry, despite the vast sources of revenue the government is generating from the zone, would definitely have easy access to various degrees in transportation related disciplines in the near future.

“We also commend other people’s efforts like the Permanent Secretary of the Transportation Ministry, Alhaji Sabi’u Zakari and other staff of the ministry towards realising this development.

“It is worthwhile to thank the Katsina state governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari for providing 413 hectares for the construction of the university.

“We also once again wish to commend the Hon Minister for the planned construction project of Freight Forwarding Office that would cost the government over 50million which had commenced last year at Jibia, Katsina state”

“Similarly, we also thank the Chairman Governing Council, CRFFN, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni, and the Registrar CRFFN Barr. Samuel Nwakohu for their efforts in facilitating the accreditation of Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic in collaboration with CRFFN and FIATA to run programs on Professional Certificate, International Diploma, International Higher Diploma in freight forwarding and supply chain management”

“Although, the Umaru Aliyu Shinkafi Polytechnic accreditation process begun during the tenure of Sir, Mike Jukwe, former Register CRFFN and which its now fully accredited now”

Ya’u said that the freight forwarders of the Northern extraction consider this development as a good news that many freight forwarders, Custom brokers, manufacturers, shipping companies and other maritime stakeholders would start benefiting knowledge from the institute beginning from next year 2020;

“We therefore urge freight forwarders from the north and other parts of the country to use these opportunities to expand the frontier of their knowledge of freight forwarding and supply chain management through these institutions.

“We also call on President Muhammadu Buhari and his government to note the various achievements brought about to the North and other part of the country by the Ministry of Transportation under the exemplary and patriotic leadership of Rotimi Amaechi, whose vision always is to have an enabling environment for better transportation services throughout Nigeria.

“We pray to Allah to continue to bless these leaders to continue the good job of discharging their duties effectively” the CRFFN committee member concluded.