By Joy Enamuna
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has urged stakeholders in the freight forwarding industry to remain calm and united following recent court proceedings.
The Council emphasized that its legal mandate, including the collection of the Practitioners Operating Fee (POF) and its overall regulatory authority, remains valid and enforceable under the CRFFN Act No. 16 of 2007.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Nigeria Institute of Freight Forwarding in Abuja, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council said recent misinterpretations of court processes should not be used to question the legitimacy of CRFFN’s operations or to incite disruption at the country’s ports.
He reaffirmed that the Council’s activities are rooted in law and focused on building a stronger, more transparent freight forwarding system in Nigeria.
Reflecting on the sector’s troubled past, the CRFFN noted that the freight forwarding profession had for years struggled with internal divisions, leadership crises, and weak institutional structures that undermined public confidence.
However, the Council said a turnaround has been achieved through the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the leadership of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, under whose guidance the Council has repositioned itself.
The Registrar revealed that internal peace and administrative stability have now been restored within the Council.
He explained that new governance frameworks and performance-driven systems have been put in place to improve efficiency, strengthen institutional integrity, and build staff capacity across departments.
According to him, the era of disjointed leadership and internal conflict has been replaced with structured, transparent, and accountable operations.
CRFFN also disclosed that its reputation, once tainted by internal instability, is being rebuilt through deliberate public engagement and strategic partnerships with terminal operators, shipping lines, trade associations, and relevant government agencies.
These collaborations, the Council noted, have repositioned CRFFN as a central figure in trade facilitation, compliance enforcement, and capacity development within the logistics chain.
Among recent milestones, the Council highlighted the commissioning of a cold chain logistics facility in Abuja, aimed at supporting national food security and pharmaceutical distribution.
It also cited the nationwide training of freight forwarders at no cost to participants, and the ongoing digitisation of logistics processes to improve operational consistency and service delivery across ports, airports, and border stations.
While acknowledging the strides made, the Council stressed the urgent need for unity among practitioners.
It called on all freight forwarding associations and stakeholders to set aside divisive politics and misinformation, warning that such actions could derail the sector’s progress.
Instead, the CRFFN urged everyone to support ongoing reforms that aim to transform the industry into a technology-driven, professionally regulated, and investor-friendly system.
In closing, the Registrar expressed optimism that with continued collaboration and federal support, Nigeria is well-positioned to become a regional leader in freight logistics.
He noted that the CRFFN’s transformation is part of a broader national effort to build a modern, resilient logistics sector that contributes meaningfully to economic development.
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