Freight Monitor
CRFFN to deregister non-certificated freight forwarders
— as it celebrates about 500 graduating logistics providers
Eyewitness reporter
The Council For The Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria(CRFFN) is set to wield the big stick on the freight forwarders who fail to get the minimum educational requirement to practice in the freight forwarding and logistics supply industry in Nigeria.
To this end, the Council has reiterated its warning that any freight forwarder who is not certificated in the freight forwarding and logistics practice would be deregistered by December 2021.
The Registrar of the Council, Barrister Samuel Nwakohu, who dropped the hint yesterday, said that any freight forwarder deregistered on account of non-certification will be barred from practising in any of the Nigerian ports as the activities of such person would be declared illegal.
Barrister Nwakohu, who was speaking to Journalists at the Lagos office of the council, however, said he has the discretionary powers to extend the date depending on the circumstance that subsists at that time.
”By December, this year, any freight forwarder who does not have the specified requirement, we shall consider stopping such person from practising.
”However, I have a discretion I may exercise, having regard to the circumstance, to extend the time to acquire the required educational qualifications”, Barrister Nwakohu declared.
Meanwhile, preparations are in top gear by the Council to organise a maiden graduation ceremony for freight forwarders who have acquired various educational proficiencies in freight forwarding and logistics supply.
According to Mr. Alban Igwe, the Director of Education and Training, CRFFN, about 500 freight forwarders who have completed their training at various accredited educational institutions in the country, would participate in the graduation ceremony which comes on Saturday, November, 27th, 2021, at the Tayo Aderinokun Lecture theatre, University of Lagos.
Giving details of the long journey that eventually culminated in the grand ceremony on Saturday, Igwe said that as part of the core mandate of the Council to sanitise the freight forwarding practice and educate the practitioners in the modern art of the profession, the Council commenced the process in 2012 by getting international accreditation of the Federation International of Freight Forwarding Association (FIATA).
After this, he said the Council sponsored 236 persons to the Train-the-Trainers programme at FIATA, adding that some of Saturday’s graduates are the products of these specially trained people.
“We achieved this milestone at a great cost to the Council and in our desire to fulfill the mandate given to us as a Council” Igwe stated.
He explained further that in furtherance of this objective, the Council initially accredited one educational institution in each of the six geo-political zones of the country to train the freight forwarders in Certificate courses, Diploma Courses, and Higher Diploma courses.
However, as time went on, the numbers of the accredited institutions were expanded to 16 in the country where the Customs brokers could avail themselves the opportunity to update their knowledge on the modern trend in freight forwarding practice.
Freight Monitor
ANLCA’s factional crisis at Airport chapter worsens as Emenike suspends Bamgbala Adewusi over trump up charges
Funso Olojo
The factional crisis at the Murtala Mohammed Airport chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) may have taken a dangerous dimension as the National President of the Association, Emenike Nwokeoji, has ordered the suspension of Prince Bamgbala Adewusi, the factional Chairman of the Airport Chapter of the ANLCA.
The crisis, which was triggered by the dissolution of the Adewusi-led chapter executives and the appointment and inauguration of Temitope Pius Akindele-led new chapter executives about two months ago, has witnessed several twists and turns that dovetailed into multiple litigations before it finally degenerated into the suspension of Prince Adewusi.
In an internal memo written and signed by Fakanlu Olumide, the National Secretary of ANLCA, Prince Adewusi together with two other members, Mr. Davies Ben Chukwunenye and Mr Lekwauwa Ifeayi Valentine, were suspended for their ”refusal to appear before the disciplinary committee to defend themselves over the documented allegations of financial malpractices bordering on embezzlement of association money”.
The memo, dated 7th, June 2024 anC addressed to all ANLCA Corporate Members titled Suspension of Membership reads inter alia “This is to notify the entire members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) of the suspension of the membership of the under listed from the association;
1.Mr Bamgbala Adewusi of ASHOV Nig.Ltd/BATOLAB Nigeria Limited.
2. Mr Davies Ben Chukwunenye of SAMON KAY Nigeria Limited.
3. Mr Lekwauwa Ifeayi Valentine of ROKBAL Global Investment Limited.
”The decision to suspend the membership of the above persons is premised on their failure/refusal to appear before the Disciplinary Committee to defend themselves over the documented allegations of financial malpractices bordering on embezzlement of Association money as stated in section 24(10) of our 2023 constitution as amended.
”It is noteworthy that the fourth member also accused in the petition showed up at the Disciplinary Committee sitting and absolved himself.
”It must be emphasized here that members of the Association are under the obligation to conduct themselves in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Association hence no member should be allowed to act as if he/she is above the said Constitution.
”Consequently, the above-stated members henceforth cease to be recognised as members of the Association, and no transaction shall be conducted with them in their former capacities as members of the Association until further notice.
”We hereby use this opportunity to thank our members for their understanding and support, especially our members in the MMIA Cargo chapter.
”We enjoin them to go about their business peacefully while assuring all that no amount of recalcitrance and blackmail will deter this administration from doing what is constitutional and in the best interest of ANLCA” the memo concluded.
However, industry commentators believed that the suspension of Prince Adewusi was more of political victimisation given the standoff between him and the National President of ANLCA, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji over the controversial elections in the Airport Chapter.
One of the top members of ANLCA who craved anonymity described Adewusi’s suspension as witch-hunting and an attempt by Emenike to break the resistance and sheer willpower of the factional chapter Chairman which has stood his ground and refused to be intimidated since the crisis started.
The source however described the purported suspension as a charade that will further plunge the association deeper into crisis.
Prince Adewusi was yet to respond to his suspension as at the time of writing this report.
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