APFFLON Queries Eligibility Of Freight Forwarding Associations Under CRFFN, Advocates Uniformity

By Roland Ekama

The African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has lamented that there is no compliant registered association accredited by Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) , pointing out that  going by the Council’s Act, none of the five groups have lived up to expectations  in line with subscription payment, criteria of their registration etc.

 

APFFLON’s President, Mr. Frank Ogunojemite who disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Governing Council of CRFFN, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni, advocated that all freight forwarding associations to be deregistered by the Council, thus all parties into a unified body of practitioners.

Ogunojemite  stressed that:“CRFFN Act stipulates that associations that don’t pay dues for a period of six months be deregistered and all CRFFN registered associations have violated this.

Ogunojemite queried that “Hence, the ideal thing is to deregister associations to show willingness to enforce the CRFFN Act. What is the Governing Board doing about this?”

Speaking further the President also condemned the N200,000 frequent stipends from the as part of Practitioners Operating Fees (POF), describing  the money  collection by the five registered associations as illegal saying CRFFN doesn’t have a system that compensates individual registered members and companies legitimately recognized by the CRFFN Act.

Ogunojemite explained further that “This N200,000 payments to associations is something that would contribute to divisiveness and anarchy in the sector and it’s an issue that the Governing Board has to address”.

Asked about the court injunction between the council and his association, while addressing the media shortly after the meeting, the President reiterated that “The issue on the court cannot be discuss in the public space.

He described the meeting with executive of the Council as first of its kind as an avenue to discuss burning issues affecting trade facilitation.

Meanwhile, he observed that there are discrepancies between the Customs Excise and Management Act (CEMA) and the CRFFN Act with regards the requirements for obtaining a Customs license, stressing that only CRFFN accredited companies should be granted Customs licenses.

He advised the CRFFN Governing Board to be more proactive in enhancing trade facilitation at ports, especially with the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) so Nigeria doesn’t become the region’s dumping ground for cargoes.

In his remarks, the Chairman of CRFFN Governing Board, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni encouraged APFFLON to withdraw its court case against CRFFN.

Tsanni, however, expressed delight at APFFLON’s commitment to tackling industry issues and robust engagements with stakeholders in a bid to improve freight forwarding practice in the country.

The CRFFN Chairman assured that the Governing Board will deliberate extensively on the issues raised by the freight forwarding group.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Media and Publicity at the CRFFN Governing Board, Hon. Muftahu Ya’u also assured that CRFFN will check the requirements needed for registration of associations and grant APFFLON that status if the group meets the stipulations in the CRFFN Act.

He advised that all future disputes among freight forwarders should utilize the dispute resolution mechanisms enshrined in the CRFFN Act.

“We have observed that APFFLON has a lot of grievances and the Governing Board Chairman has assured that they will be addressed. The fact that we met with APFFLON means that CRFFN is willing to work with all practitioners. The Chairman has also said that there will be more interface with APFFLON to have a more seamless environment”

“As the Chairman of CRFFN, Tsanni is bound by law to listen to the grievances of all CRFFN registered members either as individuals, companies or associations,” he said.

 

Caption:

From Left: Executive board member, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN),Alhaji Moshood Tijani,  Chairman, Governing Board of the CRFFN, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni; Chairman, Monitoring, Compliance and Enforcement, CRFFN Governing Board, Mr. Timothy Awogbemi; and the President, African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Mr. Frank Ogunojemite; when APFFLON executives paid a courtesy visit to the CRFFN Governing Board Chairman, Tsanni, in Lagos, Thursday.