How CRFFN can be revived, Nweke writes Minister of Marine, Oyetola

The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is floundering because its Act is replete with many fundamental flaws including wrong designation as government agency, excessive administrative staff, poor funding and governing board politicization and, if all these flaws and others are not corrected, the CRFFN might not come out of the siege.

This assertion, which is that of a seasoned freight forwarder, Dr. Eugene Nweke, the Lead of Sea Empowerment Research Center RGT, which is based in Apapa, Lagos, is outlined in a letter he wrote to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, seeking the Minister’s attention towards saving the soul of the CRFFN.

In the letter, titled – A Professional Reevaluation Aimed to Repositioning CRFFN for Regulative Effectiveness, Dr. Eugene Nweke told Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola that the failure of the CRFFN stemmed from its classification as an agency of the Marine and Blue Economy Minister as against the initial concept of an independent body as postulated by operators who demanded for the establishment of the Council.

Nweke also told Oyetola that the Council could not function because it is loaded with unrealistic administrative operations while its governing board is often made up of a lot of politicians and people who are not knowledgeable about freight forwarding.

Further in the letter, Nweke, who is the Scribe of the Customs Consultative Council (CCC), said the CRFFN could not achieve its mandate – regulation and training (production of manpower for the industry) – because of a quick fix and politically induced yearly budgeting and allocations, down playing other professional standard means of revenue generation, weak and poorly funded enforcement operations, POF income going into the government treasury, and redesignation of the CRFFN as a veritable revenue generating source.

The former NAGAFF President urged the Minister to remodel the CRFFN after these successful global bodies – International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), British International Freight Association (BIFA), Freight Forwarders Association of India (FFAI), Australian Freight Industry Association (AFIA) – that are efficiently managed as against the CRFFN that has more technical committees and regional chapters/offices than its counterparts abroad.

He noted that the CRFFN’s funding should be in tandem with the global funding models such as membership fees, license fees, levy on freight, government grants, private sector partnerships, training and certification fees, accreditation, sales of professional bulletins/publications etc.

The Sea Empowerment Research Center RGT Scribe maintained that the successful bodies he listed above drive their funds from these models and urged the CRFFN management to adopt the models.

Concluding the epistle, Nweke said “these framework of standards provide a benchmark for establishing a professional freight forwarding regulatory council. Though applicable adjustments can be made based on industry specific peculiarities, needs and maintaining stakeholder feedback.

“For a professional freight forwarding regulatory council to be effective, a sustainable funding model, efficient administration and good framework of administrative standards are crucial.

“This is a professional clarion call to the Minister to intervene on the state of the CRFFN by instituting a deliberate administrative policy to reform or restructure the CRFFN and reposition it for professional and national wellbeing, in line with the professional regulatory standard framework suggested above.

“In upholding this clarion call, it is important for the Minister to cause an action, whereby most of the CRFFN staffs will be reassigned and absorbed by other agencies of the government.

“I believe that, in the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration, you will find this modest advice worthwhile.”