Marine Blue Economy Ministry Introduces Quarterly Interactive Session With NAGAFF
Association Insists For Minister To Engage Freight Forwarders Over CRFFN Issues
By Roland Ekama
The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy on Thursday , March 6 2025, introduced a quarterly meeting with the members , National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on operational activities , mostly as it affects the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola disclosed this at a meeting during a courtesy visit to the National Headquarters of the association in Lagos .
The Minister who was represented by the Director, Training, Solomon Zaks stated that the purpose of the quarterly engagement was aimed to address and resolve challenges faced by freight forwarding practitioners in line with International best practices .
Oyetola assured the freight forwarders that the ministry will prioritize capacity building of the practitioners through the CRFFN adding that issues bothering on freight forwarding will be addressed holistically.
On his part , Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam tasked representatives from the ministry to inform the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega to meet with the association stressing that CRFFN is underperforming in line with the essence of its establishment.
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Aniebonam noted that freight forwarding is distinct from licensed customs agents, and that NAGAFF has a case in the appeal court with CRFFN over the statutory roles establishing it.
According to him, NAGAFF will continue support the ministry and CRFFN administration, and that the association is looking forward for the progress of Council, urging the Minister to play a big role through intervention.
Aniebonam who also frowned at foreign dominance in freight forwarding practice in Nigeria, urged the representatives present at the meeting to inform the minister that the implementation of the cabotage act must be enforced in freight forwarding sub sector of the maritime industry, in furtherance to create jobs for Nigerians.
The NAGAFF founder called on the minister to encourage the Registrar of CRFFN , even as he raised concerns that blackmailers are everywhere to ferment trouble through pull down syndrome.
President of NAGAFF, Tochukwu Ezisi harped on the training and retaining of practitioners in the freight forwarding sub sector of the maritime industry.
Also speaking , Director of Training , CRFFN, Florence Egbuna reassured members of NAGAFF that the council is poised to ensure training and retraining of practitioners.
She pointed out that capacity building will involve sister agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigerian Ports Authority NPA in line with International best practices.