An advocacy group in the nation’s maritime sector, the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC), on Tuesday, called on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
In an open letter to the minister titled “Urgent need to revisit and reform the Freight Forwarding Industry in Nigeria,” the head of Research, SEREC, Eugene Nweke, said the minister must review the CRFFN’s regulatory framework and mandate to ensure that it is effective and efficient in regulating the freight forwarding industry.
According to Nweke, the ministry must take steps to foster industry stability and promote a conducive environment for freight forwarding logistics providers to operate.
Nweke, the former President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), stated that the ongoing conflicts between the CRFFN and the associations have created uncertainty and instability in the industry, which can have far-reaching consequences on the economy.
“The ministry should conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the CRFFN and the associations to ensure that due process is followed and that all parties are given an opportunity to be heard. The government should engage with industry stakeholders, including freight forwarding logistics providers, to understand their concerns and ensure that any decisions made are in the best interests of the industry as a whole.
“Review the CRFFN’s regulatory framework and mandate to ensure that it is effective and efficient in regulating the freight forwarding industry, and take steps to foster industry stability and promote a conducive environment for freight forwarding logistics providers to operate.
“Revisit the pending amendment of the Act 16 of 2007, which is before the National Assembly, to address any ambiguities or weaknesses contributing to the current challenges.”
The group urged the Minister to salvage the freight forwarding profession for optimal goals and sector growth.
“A holistic industry reform is necessary to promote stability, efficiency, and growth. Our recommendations will help to achieve this goal and contribute to the overall development of the nation’s economy.
“There’s no better time to reinforce sanity in the freight forwarding profession than now, and the time to wield the big stick is now, and doing so for national interests. We urge you to dutifully salvage a seemingly helpless subsector of the maritime industry, the freight forwarding providers, for optimal goals,” Nweke ended.
