POF Crisis: APFFLON urges Oyetola to direct SW Global to account for POF amount collected

Amid crisis rocking the collection of Practitioner Operating Fee (POF) by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON ) has called on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to direct the management of SW Global to account for the total POF amount collected so far.

While arguing that this is imperative for the purpose of transparency and accountability, APFFLON said the crisis, which was ignited by uncooperative and unprofessional stance of some associations, has destabilized various reforms initiated by the minister through CRFFN to enhance freight forwarding.

APFFLON made the call in a letter addressed to the minister by its National President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, who urged the minister to direct the CRFFN Registrar to carry out a comprehensive reassessment and revalidation of all freight forwarding associations in Nigeria.

The association believes this reassessment is critical not only to restore order and professionalism but also to ensure that only credible associations continue to partner with the government in advancing the goals of the Marine and Blue Economy sector.

The full letter reads thus:
I write to you with a deep sense of urgency and patriotic concern for the sustainability of the ongoing reforms within Nigeria’s freight forwarding sector under your esteemed leadership.

The reformation initiatives championed through the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) have indeed been a beacon of hope for professionalism, accountability, and capacity building across the industry. However, recent developments indicate that the foundation of these reforms is under serious threat due to the current state and conduct of some registered freight forwarding associations.

The lack of uniformity in compliance, poor ethical standards, weakening representation, and internal leadership crises within many of these associations are eroding public trust and destabilizing the regulatory goals the Ministry and CRFFN have worked diligently to implement. Without timely intervention, these groups may inadvertently collapse the very reforms intended to strengthen the industry.

In light of this, I respectfully urge you to direct the Registrar of the CRFFN to immediately carry out a comprehensive reassessment and revalidation of all freight forwarding associations in Nigeria. This process should include, but not be limited to:
• Verifying compliance with CRFFN regulations and ethical standards;
• Auditing membership credibility and internal governance structures;
• Evaluating each association’s contribution to professional development and industry growth;
• Disbanding or restructuring associations found to be non-compliant or counterproductive to national objectives.

This reassessment is critical not only to restore order and professionalism but also to ensure that only credible associations continue to partner with the government in advancing the goals of the Marine and Blue Economy sector.
Also as you have advocated during the National Single Window seminar at Marriot Hotel on transparency and accountability. Please instruct Alhaji Nura Umar MD SW Global to make account of total POF been collected to your office and the CRFFN registrar

Your timely directive in this regard will not only save the industry from impending collapse but will also preserve your administration’s legacy of transformative leadership and sectoral reform.

I trust in your wisdom and commitment to repositioning our maritime economy for global competitiveness.

Thank you for your anticipated action and enduring service to our nation.