APFFLON back Minister on appointment of Onyekachi as CRFFN Registrar

…condemns stance of ANLCA, others

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, over the appointment of Mr. Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe as the Registrar/CEO of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

APFFLON said the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, took the right decision in appointing Kingsley Onyekachi, a professional freight forwarder, as the Registrar/CEO of CRFFN.

The National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, gave the commendation while speaking with PortNews over the weekend while condemning the shameful decision of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and other three freight forwarding associations for dragging the Minister to court over the appointment of Mr. Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe.

The National President said the leaderships of these four accredited freight forwarding associations were speaking for themselves and not the generality of the freight forwarders in Nigeria.

Ogunojemite recalled that the freight forwarders had clamoured for the appointment of a freight forwarding practitioner as the Registrar/CEO of CRFFN before now and wondered why the leadership of the four associations should now turn around to oppose the appointment of one of their own by the minister who he said acted in the best interest of the profession and the nation in general.

He maintained that the minister had taken the right decision in appointing a professional freight forwarder as the substantive Registrar/CEO of CRFFN adding that the minister also exercised the “Direction of General Character” power as conferred on him by the Act 16 2007 which established the CRFFN.

“They are not representing all the freight forwarders and we as members of APFFLON are not part of this and that is why we are saying that the Honourable Minister has taken a good decision on this matter.

“We were clamouring for the appointment of a professional as the Registrar/CEO of CRFFN and now that we have one, some are resorting to litigation. You see, these people cannot consult practitioners because of their selfishness and personal interests. These are the people who are sabotaging the industry one way or the other. And because they are not being held responsible for their activities and gangsterism, they thought they are above the laws  and can bamboozle the government to dance to their wishes instead of joining the government in its reforms so Nigeria can be visible in comity of maritime nations.

“They are not even competent to represent themselves in this matter looking at the pedigree of how each of them has flouted the Council Act.  Enough is enough, we will not fold our arms watching you causing anarchy and setback for our industry. The appointment of this man has come to stay as far as we are concerned and the Honourable Minister has taken the decision to reform the maritime sector. We stand with the Honourable Minister on this one and we will give him all the necessary support to see that this appointment stands,” he said.

Ogunojemite faulted the view of the four associations claimed that they were not against the person so appointed nor his affiliation with any association but the process that brought him to office, noting “If they are making reference to Section 11 of the Act, that is not applicable at this particular time because the industry is in a state of emergency and needs to be rescued and that is why the Honourable Minister has exercised his Direction of General Character as provided for in the CRFFN Act to save the profession from chaos. So, for them to have come up with this means that they do not have the interest of profession at heart. This is uncalled for.

“The Act did not envisage this kind of situation that we found ourselves at this time and that is why the government needs to step in in times of emergency to rescue the profession in the interest of the nation and the government has done this expectedly. We were clamouring for somebody from the profession and someone was appointed to pilot the affairs of the Council and they are kicking.

“And look at these people complaining, they are not even fit to complain because some of them have flouted the Council Act several times. When they came up with the 6:6:1:1: sharing formula for the purpose of electing freight forwarders into the Governing Council, did they follow due process or was it provided for by the Act? And now, because the odd is not in their favour, they are crying foul and I can tell you authoritatively that there is no validly accredited freight forwarding association in this country as at today.

“Yes, as individuals, they could have the locus to say whatever they are saying but not as associations because their accreditation is not for ever or permanent. There is a requirement for you to sustain your accreditation which, one way or the other, they have run foul of it. If you look at the section critically, they need to pay their annual subscription to remain accredited but most of these associations have not been paying their annual subscription yet they are still getting money from the Council. That is sabotage!

“Again, if you look at the CAMA Law which provides that each registered company or incorporated trustees should make annual returns to the Corporate Affairs Commission, these people are sabotaging the government by not remitting their annual returns to the CAC. Go and check the status of these associations at the CAC and you will discover that some of them are inactive and dead, yet they do not see that they have an obligation to fulfill to the government as good citizens of the country.

“They instead gang up to challenge what the government has done in their own interest. This is unfair, and we will not succumb to or agree with this development. Most of them have refused to fulfill their obligations as good citizens of this country.”

The APFFLON boss, however, disclosed that the association has contacted its lawyers to commence processes for APFFLON to be joined in the legal action against the Honourable Minister as an interested party.

“We know the Minister has taken the right decision and we know that it is time for the industry to move forward. They need to reassess themselves to know if they are fit or not but we are categorically saying that some of them are no longer existing in the eyes of the law.

“We have contacted our lawyers to commence processes for application for joinder as an interested party in the matter coming up in the court later this week because what they are seeking to achieve is not acceptable to us and they don’t have the locus standi to query the decision of the Minister in this case.”