APFFLON expresses concern over delay in CRFFN election, wants Registrar’s investigation report made public

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has expressed concern over the delay in conducting elections into the Governing Council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Transportation, President of APFFLON, Frank Ogunojemite, urged the Minister to intensify efforts towards the successful elections to avoid a vacuum in the Governing Council given the track record of the humongous challenges and setbacks during the last era of CRFFN without a Governing Board.

“It is indeed our expectation that this Governing Council election is scheduled in the first or second quarter of 2022 to set the tempo for professionalism and further enhance the development of freight forwarding practice in the nation.

“We, at APFFLON, our expectation and indeed the expectation of every well-meaning stakeholder in the sector is a free and fair CRFFN Governing Board election which is expected to crystalize a radical change in the industry from the aspect of freight forwarding,” he said.

Ogunojemite said amid debates on the opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), there is a massive role in the transport and logistics component that freight forwarding practitioners are expected to address adding that a vibrant CRFFN with a Governing Board in place, would expedite the process of unveiling the role of Nigerian freight forwarders.

“At this point, let us reiterate that we strongly believe in the ability of the Minister’s noncompromising stance on the conduct of a ranchor free CRFFN Governing Board election, as well as your supervisory role on the affairs of CRFFN,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the association ahs urged the Minister to make public the investigation on fraud allegation perpetuated by the Registrar of the Council, Barrister Sam Nwakohu.

“APFFLON also recalls that eight months ago the Ministry of Transportation began investigations on the numerous atrocities allegedly perpetuated by the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Barr. Samuel Nwakohu, and we encourage the Ministry to reveal its findings.

“Industry stakeholders have remarked, rightly so, that the covert investigations carried out by Mr. Muhiy-deen Awwal, Director, Human Resources Management, Ministry of Transportation, will continue to raised more uncertainty among freight forwarding practitioners in the nation, if the findings remain unknown,” he said.