The President -General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade (Prince) Dr Adewale Adeyanju, founder , New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) , Chief Boniface Aniebonam and former Vice President Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) were major winners at the 24th Anniversary of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) held in Lagos over the weekend.
Adeyanyu who doubles as the Deputy President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) was bestowed with the prestigious award for his steadfastness and commitment to labour matters in the maritime sector.
The award also described the unionist as a pragmatic labour leader, whose immense contribution towards a peaceful maritime sector in the country cannot be overemphasized.
According to the Head of Media Comrade Kenneth Ikemefuna, who represented the PG, it was in view of his overall assessment in both the maritime sector and in the Congress that informed NAGAFF’s choice of the Maritime Labour Numero Uno for the award during occasion of the Association’s 24th anniversary of its existence.
The event also witnessed cream de la cream of the industry such as the founder and past president of the Association, Chief (Dr) Boniface Aniebonam amongst others who graced the event.
Comrade Adeyanju who was elated with the award also promised the Association of his Union’s continued synergy with the Freight Forwarders, whom he said have lived up to their billings as professionals in the industry.
Also , Dr. Farinto whilst reacting on the prestigious award called on the government to look inward to address challenges affecting the industry.
The award winners who doubles as the Managing Director , Wealthy Honey Investment Nigeria Limited, added that the award from a sister association was commendable .
While appreciating the organizers for the award in line with his contributions to the maritime industry, Farinto added that NAGAFF has come a long way to ensuring professionalism in freight forwarding practice in Nigeria, stressing the need for government intervention on policies affecting trade .
Dr. Aniebonam who won the award as “Grand Commander in freight forwarding practice in Nigeria ” , expressed concerns over the state of the Council for the Regulations in Freight Forwarding in Nigeria ( CRFFN) .
Aniebonam who is the founder of NAGAFF called on government to appoint the former Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Hassan Bello saying that he has what it takes to tackle issues affecting the industry.
Aniebonam who took a swipe at the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding Practice (CRFFN) said the Council is as good as dead as it has failed to live up to expectations of sanitizing the practice of freight forwarding and professionalising the trade.
He argued that CRFFN is not a government agency stating that the liberation struggle to ensure the Council is taken back from the full control of government is still ongoing.
According to him, “we have to rejig the Council to be supervised by the CRFFN because right now, the Council is as good as dead.”
The former Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Hassan Bello, urged freight forwarders to embrace technology, saying that the usage of technology is key to achieving professionalism in the freight forwarding practice in Nigeria.
Bello, who chaired the event also said the business of freight forwarding must be restructured with a view to reducing the numbers to about seven companies with adequate knowledge of world economy, professionalism and consolidation
Bello lamented that freight agents are reluctant to embrace technology as most of their transactions are still conducted manually in an era that is characterized by technological advancement.
The former NSC boss called on regulatory agencies in the industry to ensure that technology is entrenched in the freight forwarding practice to achieve contact less cargo clearing processes at the nation’s ports.
“Why would you send a freight forwarder to the port checking for a rotation number or invoice when you can do it in your office? That is the modern practice. We still go to shipping companies, banks and see large numbers of freight forwarders still struggling and making the port a contact port while what we are advocating is a contact less port. Freight forwarders must embrace technology so that they do not become extinct,” he said.
“It is only the freight forwarders that you see in the port now. What is he doing there? Because we have the penchant of not growing, everybody wants to be the boss in this profession. They should have consolidation. Why would you have one million freight forwarders, when we can have five, six, seven importing companies to handle the situation? We don’t need the multitude of freight forwarders and one man business that does not even have an office,” he said.
By Roland Ekama
