FMOT Makes U-turn, Approves Individuals Participation In CRFFN Elections, As Aniebonam Urges Associations To Protest

By Roland Ekama

 

Fresh indications have emerged that the Federal Ministry of Transportation has approved individual candidatures in the forthcoming Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) elections .

 

Recall that the Ministry at a meeting  last year , resolved for the five accredited freight forwarding associations to select membership for the elections through the sharing formula of 6-6-1-1-1 agreement against individual participation.

 

Insider sources disclosed that the FMOT has resolved to allow individual contest the elections against the earlier agreed registered associations formula .

 

It was also gathered that a former national president of one of the registered associations by the council has already set the ball rolling as a contestant representing Rivers State.

 

 

But reacting against the background of directive by the FMOT, founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr. Boniface Aniebonam at a press briefing on Monday, in Lagos, further accused CRFFN Registrar and the Transport Ministry over moves of encouraging single candidature in the  elections against earlier agreed accredited associations.

 

Aniebonam expressed worries over existing  silence by leadership of the registered freight forwarding  associations over the latest development for the council to approve individual participation in the polls against the earlier agreed position of the five registered freight forwarding associations.

 

He called on the President of NAGAFF Toichukwu Ezifi and Tony Iju Nwabunike , President, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) to spearhead a protest to the National Assembly in addition to kick against the newly approved  individual participation of the CRFFN elections.

 

Primarily also,the founder urged the associations to boycott the elections if need be , lamenting that the Transportation Ministry has been eager from day one to hijack CRFFN.

 

According to him, the Registrar of CRFFN had called for a meeting with the registered associations over the lingering protest  but he lampooned the council’s head for lack of ideas on the  best way to conduct credible elections.

 

He lamented that the Transport Ministry has failed to add value for the progress of the council, adding that the purpose and ideas of CRFFN has not be achieved since inception.

The NAGAFF boss described the actions by the Ministry as illegal stressing the need to protect the existing laws of the council

 

Aniebonam who corroborated the candidacy of an ex President of the association representing Rivers State in the forthcoming elections,  said ,”Right now we can see that the elections has been rigged before time because you have a sole candidate like Increase Uche for Port Harcourt Airport.

 

 

 

 

He recalled the last meeting with the Transport Ministry where it was agreed that the elections should under the concensus of registered associations instead of individuals but added that recent development has indicated that the Ministry is more interested in individual contestants.

 

On the lingering strike action embarked upon by practitioners in Lagos seaports, Aniebonam said NAGAFF is engaging management of Customs constructively on the VIN policy , even as he reiterated that “NAGAFF is not part of the protest.

He called on the  aggrieved protesters at Tin Can Island Port and PTML over the VIN policy to hold the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria CRFFN responsible and  accountable for failing to address the issues with management of the Nigeria Customs Service.(NSC) amicably.