POF Crisis: NAGAFF calls for deregistration of ANLCA and others by CRFFN

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called on the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to deregister the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), AREFF and NAFFAC.

NAGAFF also urged the Council to request the Corporate Affair Commission (CAC) to withdraw their certificates in the national interest.

The NAGAFF President, Chief Tochukwu Ezizi, made this call while addressing the press on the POF collection crisis at the NAGAFF national headquarters in Apapa, Lagos on Monday, August 3, 2025.

NAGAFF noted that their deregistration became necessary following their unholy support for a court judgment obtained by Mr. Lucky Amiwero of NCMDLCA in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/765/2018, claiming the CRFFN lacks authority to regulate customs agents and collect the POF.

Ezizi’s statement reads thus: NAGAFF has carefully observed with enduring patience how events unfolded since the appointment of the current CRFFN Registrar, choosing professionalism over partisanship. However, recent actions by four accredited associations, namely, ANLCA, AREFF, NAFFAC, and NCMDLCA, compels us to clarify our position.

These groups have publicly aligned with a court judgment obtained by Mr. Lucky Amiwero of NCMDLCA in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/765/2018, claiming the CRFFN lacks authority to regulate customs agents and collect the Practitioner Operating Fee (POF). Yet, the CRFFN has appealed and filed a stay of execution, rendering the ruling unenforceable.

Ironically, Mr. Amiwero has condemned the same associations now exploiting his court victory, exposing their opportunism. This only reinforces our concern about their credibility and motivations.

Let it be known that ANLCA has long resisted CRFFN’s establishment, going as far as proposing a counter-bill in the National Assembly. Similarly, past CRFFN elections were marred by irregularities challenged in court by some of these same actors, patterns of undermining the Council when outcomes don’t favor them.

The real issue appears to be the appointment of Mr. Kingsley Igwe as Registrar, a former NAGAFF Secretary. His emergence triggered a litigation, not for legal rectitude but as a political vendetta.

We must now speak clearly:
Those who no longer believe in CRFFN’s mandate should exit the stage.
We suspect a broader agenda to sabotage government reform in the Marine and Blue Economy sector.
Government should investigate the economic and regulatory sabotage being carried out under the guise of activism.

These groups have often failed in their statutory financial obligations to CRFFN.

ANLCA and NCMDLCA must align their identity with the new Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023.

We recommend that CRFFN consider the registration of these four associations and request the withdrawal of their CAC certificates in the national interest.

The NAGAFF President said the association is proud of the performance of the current Registrar, Mr. Kingsley Igwe Onyekachi, saying his excellent leadership has yielded positive results since he came on board.

“Despite these distractions, NAGAFF remains proud of the performance of the current Registrar, Mr. Kingsley Igwe. In under a year, he has shown exceptional leadership, including:

Expanding CRFFN’s funding beyond POF to improve financial sustainability.

Commenced training of 1,000 freight forwarders in 2025, an unprecedented capacity-building initiative which has seen a successful training of 300 freight forwarders already.

Driving digital modernization and stakeholder collaboration to strengthen CRFFN’s regulatory role.

“We hereby pass a vote of absolute confidence on the leadership of the CRFFN Registrar/CEO under the supervision of the Hon. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON.

“NAGAFF will remain committed to the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and to a freight forwarding profession anchored in professionalism, transparency, and national service.”