Why National Assembly’s amendment of CRFFN Act may fail, by Shittu

The ongoing moves by the National Assembly to amend the Act establishing the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) may fail if critical stakeholders like licensed customs agents and freight forwarders were not allowed to make their inputs to it.

The National President of Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu made the assertion at the award night for freight forwarders in Lagos.

Shittu said the act would be dead on arrival if the lawmakers decide to go ahead without consulting widely with operators whose jobs would be impacted by the amended law.

He said options were open to freight forwarders to continue in their business under another pretext without being regulated or stopped by the CRFFN, if the lawmakers ignore calls for consultations.

He noted that the CRFFN was far from achieving the purposes for which it was established while expressing optimism that ANLCA’s synergy with the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) would make the council work better.

“Freight forwarding practice in Nigeria should be focused on exports and should take a cue from countries like India, Singapore and Malaysia,” he added.
Shittu who spoke at the award dinner for outstanding freight forwarders organised by Maritime Media Limited said the National Assembly should allow freight forwarders and licensed agents to make robust inputs into the law to enhance it for a better industry.

Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Media Limited, Elder Asu Beks, who organised the dinner, described the freight forwarders as critical components of the total logistics chain who add value to the greater good and growth of the economy.

He described their business activities as catalysts to other sectors ranging from manufacturing, importation, exportation and increased professionalism in the maritime sector.

There are allegations that the Federal Government may have inserted an amendment that requires the President to appoint chairman of the CRFFN contrary to expectations that the council would be a private sector driven organisation.