The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, APFFLON has dissociated itself from the decision of the four of the five self-accredited freight forwarding associations who dragged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola to court over the appointment of Mr. Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe as the substantive Registrar/CEO of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
Recall that the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), and National Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC) all dragged the minister to court, challenging the appointment of Igwe as the substantive Registrar/CEO of the CRFFN.
In a statement signed by the National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, the group said that the leadership of the four accredited freight forwarding associations was speaking for themselves and not the generality of the freight forwarders in Nigeria.
Describing the development as “sad and unfortunate“, Ogunojemite recalled that the freight forwarders had been clamouring for the appointment of a freight forwarding practitioner as the Registrar/CEO of CRFFN before now wondering why the leadership of the four associations should now, turn around to oppose the appointment of one of their own by the minister who he said acted in the best interest of the profession and the nation in general.
He maintained that the minister had taken the right decision in appointing a professional freight forwarder as the substantive Registrar/CEO of CRFFN, adding that the minister also exercised the “Direction of General Character” power as conferred on him by the Act 16 2007 which established the CRFFN.
“They are not representing all the freight forwarders and we as members of APFFLON are not part of this and that’s why we are saying that the honourable minister has taken a good decision on this matter.
“We were clamouring for the appointment of a professional as the Registrar/CEO of CRFFN and now that we have one, some are resorting to litigation. You see, these people, can not consult practitioners because of their selfishness and personal interests Those were the people who are sabotaging the industry one way or the other and because they are not being held responsible for their activities and gangsterism they thought they are above the laws and can bamboozle the government instead they should let’s join government in maritime reformation so Nigeria can be visible in comity of maritime nations.
“They are not even competent to represent themselves in this matter looking at the pedigree of how and each of them has flouted the act of the particular council. Enough is enough, we will not fold our arms watching you causing anarchy and setbacks in our industry. Please note the appointment of this man has come to stay as far as we are concerned and the honourable minister has taken the decision to reform the maritime sector. We stand with the Honourable Minister on this one and we will give him all the necessary support to see that this appointment stands”, he said.
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