By Kenneth Jukpor
The Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam has urged the new Chairman of the Governing Council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to ensure he operated an all-inclusive leadership style.
The NAGAFF boss who was addressing journalists under the aegis of Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN) stressed that NAGAFF should be carried along in key decision making issues as the body had more than two-third of the registered members of CRFFN.
“Out of the 1300 duly registered members of CRFFN, NAGAFF had 1100 members while the other associations had 200. This shows that CRFFN is powered by NAGAFF but we want an all-inclusive Council so we didn’t want to go to polls and win all the positions. The new Chairman, Abubakar Tsanni should realize this and not be a leader without troops” he said.
Despite the discrepancies that led NAGAFF to miss out on the Chairmanship and Vice-Chairman positions at the Council, he maintained that CRFFN was dear to the heart of NAGAFF because it has a lot to do with the affairs of its members as it emphasizes professionalism.
“The Council has faced several challenges over the years but we must continue to remain resolute that we would get it right” he said.
Meanwhile, he debunked claims that Abubakar was a candidate endorsed by NAGAFF saying; “The truth has emerged that Abubakar is been sponsored by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA). What happened in Abuja revealed that ANLCA supported Abubakar’s emergence as Chairman. Increase got eight votes who were eight elected members of the Council while 21 others voted Henry Njoku. The elected members were 15 and Increase got 8 out of 15 which means Increase actually won”
Aniebonam also lampooned the procedure that led to Abubakar’s emergence as Chairman, noting that it was a deviation of the CRFFN Act, while he also noted that the swearing-in ceremony should have preceded the elections and not the elections holding before the inauguration.
However, he opined that the Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi’s actions were as a result of ignorance and assured that NAGAFF wouldn’t drag the Council backward with legal actions but support the Council for the overall benefit of the practitioners.
“Amaechi did what he did because he believed that CRFFN was a government agency. However, he has said that by the time he would be leaving as Minister of Transport, he would recommend that his successor takes steps to withdraw the government input in CRFFN and allow it exist as a private-driven professional entity” he said.
He also praised the President of ANLCA, Mr. Tony Iju-Nwabunike for his high level of professionalism and sincerity during the gimmicks and electioneering for the Chairman of the Governing Council.
