By Kenneth Jukpor
Ten members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) have purchased forms for the upcoming Governing Council elections for the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), even as the association has collected N100million as logistics fund for the Abuja-based election.
Speaking with MMS Plus yesterday, the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam stated that NAGAFF has activated its machinery to win at least ten seats out of the 15 available seats in the CRFFN.
According to him, the ten NAGAFF sponsors for the upcoming elections are; Mallam Ibrahim Tanko, Engr. Emmanuel Umeadi, Engr. Chukwunonso Ejikeme, Chief Ifeanyi Ekemezie, Dr. Okechukwu Okoro, Mr. Ndubuisi Usoegbo, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, Mr. Timothy Awogbemi, Princess Chi Grace Ezeh and Barr. Henry Olarotimi.
The notable abseentee in the NAGAFF crew is the incumbent NAGAFF President, Chief Increase Uche; but the NAGAFF Founder maintained that the door isn’t shut for other members of the association to indicate interest and pick up forms for the CRFFN elections.
“Recall that in the last election into the Council, NAGAFF had to accommodate other registered associations’ members. It is on record that out of 1300 eligible voters in the last election that NAGAFF had 1100 voters. This simply means that if NAGAFF had decided to pick the 15 seats available that she would have done that, however we opted to accommodate other sister associations through a memo of understanding. Seats we allocated to NCMDLCA 1, NAFFAC 1, AREFFN 1, ANLCA 6 AND NAGAFF 6”
“We regret to state that the story changed at the council chambers where it became a case of betrayal of trust and conspiracy against NAGAFF by the small group associations. As it stands, we may be going into the election with ANLCA left with the remaining 5 seats. NAGAFF may not be ready for any compromise any longer but strictly business as it were,” he said.
Describing CRFFN as a baby of NAGAFF that must not be allowed to die, Aniebonam noted that several ills in freight forwarding practice in Nigeria will be corrected by an effective CRFFN which requires quality leadership at the Governing Council.
“We call upon all the young freight forwarders who do not have customs license to their advantage to join NAGAFF and CRFFN where they are duly protected under the law. It is only CRFFN that has the absolute powers to control and regulate freight forwarding profession in Nigeria.”
“Please note that practitioners as registered freight forwarders of Nigeria under CRFFN do not necessarily need the ownership of licenses issued by the customs to practice. It is the statutory responsibility of CRFFN to set standards of practice and certification of practitioners and as may be approved by the Council. Join NAGAFF now to the journey of liberation of the young freight forwarders who are the majority that need to be powered to freedom and prosperity,” he added.
