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By Kenneth Jukpor
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has recommended strict screening of candidates for the Governing Board elections of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
Speaking with MMS Plus yesterday, the National President of APFFLON, Mr. Frank Ogunojemite made this call, even as he expressed concern on the motives and capabilities of some of the aspirants.
While appreciating the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for opening the polls to all contestants, Ogunojemite stressed that the next move should be a thorough screening of the candidates.
According to him, the contestants should have manifestos and be able to guarantee significant contribution to issues that affect freight forwarders before they are voted in.
His words: “In order to have a well-deserved Governing Board that will be able to carry out reforms at CRFFN, there must be a thorough screening process for the candidates. They must be able to provide their manifestos and lobby for votes with the manifestos.”
“The voters must be able to scrutinize their agenda and review their criteria and interests. Do these candidates actually know what’s happening in the industry? There must be a screening process.”
Ogunojemite, however, noted presently most contestants have sponsored the update of several candidates’ dues with CRFFN and agreed to fund their travel expenses to Abuja in a bid to secure their votes.
“The truth is that it costs money to mobilize people to vote. If someone’s CRFFN registration isn’t up-to-date, the person can’t vote. Some of the contestants are taking advantage of this to update people’s registration but this would lead to sympathetic votes that wouldn’t usher in the best candidates as Governing Board members of CRFFN,” he argued.
Speaking further, the freight forwarder encouraged Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to address the numerous challenges affecting the electronic truck call-up system (ETO), amid plans by truckers to jettison the online platform.
Ogunojemite noted that the multiple costs attached to ETO should be removed, even as he admonished NPA to further simplify the process for truckers and remove the human elements which contributions to the extortion on the port access roads.
While commending NPA for the proposal to make Lilypond terminal an export base for final export documentation and clearance, he encouraged the Authority to give such preference to other dry ports and seaports across the nation.
