Freight Monitor

The newly elected CRFFN governing board would be the worst in history—-freight forwarders lament.

CRFFN governing board voting process on Wednesday at Lagos centre

—–say elections marred by rigging, vote-buying

Opeyemi Adesogbon

Some aggrieved freight forwarders have described the Wednesday elections into the governing board of the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) as lacking in merit and integrity as, according to them, the whole process was marred by irregularities.

Some of them, who spoke to our reporter, claimed the process was hijacked by rented mercenaries, who were brought in from Mushin and Ajegunle to vote at the Western zone venue of the elections in Lagos.

They, therefore, declared that such a convoluted process could not bring anything positive but failure.

“This new CRFFN board will be the worst in history of the Council as most of the people thrown up by this warped process are nothing by neophytes and sycophants who have no agenda for the betterment of the freight forwarders” one of the aggrieved customs brokers who craved anonymity, declared.

“The new council is condemned to fail as it is not going to be any different from the last one which was a colossal failure”, another respondent fumed.

However, our reporter who was on the ground to monitor the elections at the Lagos centre, observed that the election was characterized by several anomalies including poor organization, late arrival of materials, and hired touts participating in the election.

As at 10: 00 am when voting was scheduled to commence, materials were not yet on ground and as a result of the delay, voting did not start till around 12:15 pm, giving room for a series of manipulations, including printing of fake identity cards.

One of the clearing agents, Godfrey Nwosu, who spoke with our reporter, said the conduct of the election was against the provisions of the CRFFN Act on voters’ eligibility.

Nwosu accused those who were elected into the governing board of not having any agenda to deliver on but are only going to the Council to act on a written script.

“This regime of CRFFN electoral committee has succeeded in achieving their ulterior motive.

“The provisions of the CRFFN Act on eligibility to vote were not taken into cognizance.

” The Act provides that for you to vote or even be voted for, the individual must have been a member of the Council for not less than two years.

” But what we observed at the venue of the election today (Wednesday) did not suffice.

“So, I am not expecting anything new from the individuals that made it into the governing council other than failure.

“Those of them who succeeded into the Council today are going to play a written script. None among them have an agenda or even mandate to deliver.

“By Friday, go to their base and you will see them celebrating. What are they celebrating? Victory for all or for who they believe in?

“We are going to see the worst reflection of the last governing council.

“This board is a replica of an assembly. Don’t forget that the governing board is supposed to be a platform where motions on shipping companies, terminal operators, Customs and even other government agencies are moved in view of their inordinate operational procedures.

.” The Council is supposed to raise issues from there and begin to address it but I tell you nothing different will happen from what we have seen in the past.”

Emmanuel Onyeme, another aggrieved clearing agent, described the majority of the new governing council members as bench warmers.

According to him, many of them do not have the capacity to make meaningful inputs that would ensure that freight forwarding practice is regulated and address operational challenges faced by members.

“The election has come and gone and out of the five candidates that won, four came in from NAGAFF. It is only Kayode Farinto that came back as ANLCA representative for the Western zone.

“From my assessment, I don’t think there will be any difference compared to the last council because when you look at the people who came into the board again, you already know what their records are.

” From what I saw today, I don’t see any of them apart from Farinto and Tanko having that boldness to confront the government agencies, shipping companies and terminal operators.

” I see the other governing board members as bench warmers who are just going there without any meaningful inputs to make because we are all in this industry and we know ourselves,” he claimed.

On the allegation of vote-buying, Onyeme said, “A lot of people they bought came from Mushin, Ajegunle and Oshodi.

“If you look at their dressing, you will know that these are people who don’t operate in the port.

“It is very shameful with the kind of people we saw today(Wednesday) that if this is how the Council will continue, it is not worth it.

“We were here when they picked up machines and were making identity cards for them.

“So, there was massive buying of votes and registration and the Council did not give us an opportunity to check this.

“I was expecting the Council to say that for people to contest the election, those in the register must be people who have registered for the past two years.

” But we discovered today that people were registered in January and in March, they are coming to cast their votes. It is never done.”

According to the election results obtained by our reporter, the new governing board members are; Princess Chi Ezeh with 224 votes (NAGAFF), Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim 179 votes (NAGAFF), Ndubuisi Uzoegbo 147 votes (NAGAFF), Awogbemi Timothy 145 votes (NAGAFF), Chief Increase Uche 121 votes (NAGAFF/Independent), Chukwunonso Ejikeme 120 votes (NAGAFF), Tochukwu Ezisi 110 votes (NAGAFF).

Others are: Ekemezie Ifeanyi 72 votes (NAGAFF), Dr Farinto Collins Kayode 72 votes (ANLCA), Muftahu Ya’u 91 votes (NAGAFF), Chief Henry Njoku 63 votes (ANLCA), Bala Rabiu Lawan 54 votes (AREFFN), Isikaku Ifeanyi Goddy 52 votes (ANLCA), Kingsley O. Offor 44 votes (ANLCA) and Christopher C. Okafor 26 votes (ANLCA).

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Freight Monitor

Ozo Chukwurah preaches peace in ANLCA

— praises efforts of Emenike, Farinto, Ipariola, Abdullaziz, Oforbike , Obiora,Okafor in keeping ANLCA together.

— crowns Wale Cole the new ‘governor’ of Tin Can chapter

Funso OLOJO

In what appears to the a new dawn of peace in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA), the erswhile Vice- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association, Prince Ozo Chukwurah, have praised the current sanity in the hitherto polarized freight forwarders union.

Prince Chukwurah, in an exclusive interview with our reporter, eulogized the efforts of certain individuals for their efforts , commitment and sacrifice that have resulted to the present peace in the ANLCA.

Specifically, he singled out the National President of the association, Mr Nwokeji Emenike for his exemplary leadership,acumen and political sagacity in bringing back the ANLCA from the precipice.

The former Chairman of the Western Zone of the association also praised the sacrifices of Kayode Farinto,the former Acting National President of ANLCA, Alhaji Mukaila Abdullaziz, the former Secretary and later Sole Administrator of the Association, Mr Eniola Ipariola (Anyman), John Oforbike and Obiora Elochukwu which he said has helped to heal the wound inflicted by the years of intractable crisis which rocked the ANLCA to its foundation.

He also shared a kind word for Mr Dennis Oka for(Akataka).

” I want to congratulate Emenike Nwokeji, the National President for keeping the ANLCA together.

” He met a disunited and divided association from the BOT to all the members.

” He was able to stand and weathered the storm and restore peace and harmony to the association.

” I salute his courage and leadership qualities.

” My special recognition to some individuals for their roles in making ANLCA great again.

” In our BOT election, some of these people were humiliated, disenfranchised, yet they stayed in the association.

” People like Kayode Farinto, Eniola Ipariola (Anyman), Mukaila Abdullaziz.

Despite the treatment meted out to them, they still remain in the association,

I salute their sacrifice.

” I must not fail to mention the role of John Oforbike for being strong and steadfast in his love and commitment to ANLCA

” I will also like to recognize an independent mind, a strong but highly underrated individual in the person of Obiora Elochukwu, the present of Chairman of the Association Electorial Commission(ASECO).

” He surprised and exceeded the expectations of everyone in his handling of the chapter elections.

” He should be allowed to conclude the Apapa chapter elections.”

” My greatest and highest recognition goes to Prince Wale Cole, the elected chairman of the Tin Can Island chapter.

” I hereby relinquishes my title” the Governor ” and given it to Prince Wale Cole.

” Henceforth, he is to be known and referred to as the ” Governor” of Tin Can Island chapter of ANLCA.

” He is the new Sheriff in town.

On the conduct of the chapter elections and his expectations, Prince Ozo Chukwura said;

” Am appealing to the Board of Trustees (BOT) and all ANLCA members to allow and support Obiora Elochukwu ( ASECO Chairman) to finish his work.

“Because further crisis in ANLCA will never help anybody. But, most sincerely, I will also congratulate my big brothers, Chief Henry Njoku and Sir Ernest Elochukwu, while appealing to them to put their differences aside , so that ANLCA will rise more than it is now. Congratulations to all those who love ANLCA.”

On why he has decided to congratulate all this people and the conduct of the election having being a leader from the other faction, he said,

” From the time of Kamba, we have been having divided interests, even in your family, but that doesn’t remove you from the family.

“Interest will never die, but human beings will come and go. Some names are no more heard in ANLCA today, but those who are in the association today will fight to make same ANLCA remain one”.

Ozo also spoke on why he decided to hand over his title as ” Governor ” of Tin Can after over 20 years since he left office in 1999 and his expectations from Wale Cole as the new ” Governor” of Tin Can Chapter.

” I won the first election at Tin Can Island Chapter in 1999, people came together and gave me the title the “Governor of Tin Can”.

“I did not give it to myself , they gave it to me as a nickname, they felt then that I have the capacity to govern that big port of Tin Can.

“When Tin Can, Brawal, SCOA, SIFAX , PTML, all of them were under Tin Can”.

Why he decided to hand over the title to Wale Cole, after many Chairmen have come and gone- Ozo Chukwura said:

“They all came in their own different ways and styles. Dr Kayode Farinto came, a highly educated individual in ANLCA.

“Oyinola came with his own style, but this young man , Wale Cole , came like a Tsunami, that nobody could resist.

“Wale Cole came with a Tsunami that nobody could win him in Tin Can.

” That was how Prince Ozo Chukwura came in 1998, won the election with Tsunami, which I relinquished it to Olatunde, who later supported me to win again in 1999.

” It was the way and manner I collected the key to Tin Can that Prince Taiye Oyeniyi was holding and Oye supported me, that is when they gave me the title ” Governor of Tin Can”.

” Now that Wale Cole came with too much strength, he did not collect the key from me , because am no longer in office, he bulldozed his way and won the chapter election at Tin Can, he is now the new “Governor ” of Tin Can Island Chapter of ANLCA.

On his expectations from Wale Cole, haven’t regarded him as his political godson, Ozo declared

” He should always maintain peace and unity in ANLCA, not to see himself as a tin god , but to be humble.

“So long God has given me a second chance to be alive , I will continue to advice him. I have absolute confidence in him.”

Finally, Ozo Chukwura message to stakeholders to support Wale Cole and ANLCA to succeed, he said

” Many things happens in government. The way it is now is not they way it was then. I will advise him to work , more especially collaboration with NAGAFF people and give due respect to all the executives of NAGAFF, while I will beg them to reciprocate.

” Though, no organize competition, but there are individuals interests ” Prince Ozo Chukwurah concluded.

The ANLCA has been embroiled in an intractable crisis for over five years which the present NECOM inherited.

The crises rocked the association to its very foundation and threatened its existence.

But the recent happenings invite association suggest that peace and sanity is gradually creeping into the association being touted as the oldest and largest freight forwarders association in the country.

Freight Monitor

Freight forwarding business under threat as Customs Agents lament high cost of goods clearance at ports

— We are diversifying into other businesses to stay afloat– ANLCA Chieftain cries out.

Funso OLOJO

This is not the best of times for freight forwarders who ply their trade at the Nigerian ports.

This is because their cherished trade is under threat due to the astronomical increase in the cost of clearance of goods at the ports.

Due to the plethoral of charges slammed on importers/ Shippers at the Port, most of them could not afford to bring in as many containers as before while others have outrightly stopped the importation business.

This development, our reporter gathered, has therefore put the freight forwarding business on the brink of collapse due to lack of patronage.

According to the cost analysis of cargo clearance procedures at the Port, an average importer, using the Nigerian ports, pays more than six different exorbitant charges apart from customs duties.

For instance, before an importer could exit his goods from the ports, he pays the following charges.

a. N500,000 NAFDA Certification

b. N500,000 SON Certification

c.45 per cent( up from 30 per cent) terminal operators and shipping companies service fees/ charges

d. N 150,000 to N200,000 NESREA/ other Environmental Agencies charges

e. N45,000 per day demurrage on 20- footer container

f.N68,500 per day demurrage on 40- footer container

g.20 million Customs duty on 20- footer container

h.26 million Customs duty on 40- footer container.

In addition to these charges, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has recently increased its tariff by 15 percent.

It could also be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service only recently put on hold the 4 per cent Free on Board (FOB) charge on imports due to the outcry of freight forwarders .

However, the FOB charge would eventually be reinstated later after sufficient consultations and sensitization are carried out by the customs.

Alhaji Mukaila Abdullaziz, the former Sole Administrator of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) said the listed bills are more than that.

“What you have just listed was an average cost, they are more than that” he declared with a hint of bitterness in his voice, when asked to confirm the cost analysis as the foremost freight forwarder in the industry.

” The Customs’ Federal Operations Unit(FOU) is still there.

“Their officers will lay siege on the road for a container that have already paid the exorbitant fees you have mentioned.

“They too will slam their panthom charges on the already exited container and if you don’t pay, they will impound it and take it to their office” the ANLCA Chieftain declared.

When asked how freight forwarders break even in the face of these multiple charges, Abdullaziz retorted;

” We are not breaking even .No agent is breaking even except the dare- devil ones who are ready to do anything to break even.

“But for some of us who are old hands on the job and have names to protect, we are not breaking even because we are not ready to compromise the system”

“That is why most of us have diversified into other businesses to stay afloat”.

“The freight forwarding industry is dead” he said with a hint of regret in his emotion – laden voice.

Our reporter could confirm that most of the old hands in the freight forwarding business have diversified into hospitality business as they are owners of choice hotels spread across Lagos and other commercial cities in Nigeria.

Freight Monitor

Adeyanju rallies support for new CRFFN Registrar.

– appeals to warring associations to give Igwe Kingsley a chance

– warns his failure will affect freight forwarding industry

Funso OLOJO

Prince Adewale Adeyanju, the indefatigable President- General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has risen in stout defence of the appointment of Mr Igwe Kingsley, the new Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding practice in Nigeria (CRFFN), vowing to deploy the machinery of the union to ensure his success.

His support was against the backdrop of the opposition from other freight forwarding associations which went to court to challenge the appointment of the new Registrar.

Adeyanju, who was speaking exclusively in an interview with our reporter in his office, admonished the warring associations to shield their swords and support the new Registrar to succeed.

” The industry is bigger than individuals.

“Government has the right to appoint whoever it feels can perform, it has the right to appoint and disappoint.

“The new Registrar has been given that opportunity and every of us owes him a duty to rally round him and support him to succeed, especially the freight forwarding groups.

” They should know that such opportunity can come to any of them in the nearest future. Therefore, they should allow the young man to function by giving him the needed support” the top union leader admonished.

He said that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, should be commended for appointing the new Registrar from the fold of freight forwarding and the least that is expected of his colleagues in the industry is to support him.

” If they frustrate him and he fails, the freight forwarding industry will bear the consequences of his failure but if they support him and he succeeds, the industry will enjoy the benefits of such success.

“So it is in their best interest to support him to succeed” Adeyanju declared.

He expressed dismay at the hard stance of other associations against the appointment of the new Registrar which he said is not from Yoruba or Hausa but igbo stock whom he claimed are the people surprisingly waging war against him.

Adeyanju however pledged the unflinching support of the maritime labour union for the new Registrar and promised to rally other stakeholders for his success.

” Our own union, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, will support him, work with him and shall rally all other stakeholders to support the young man so he can succeed.

” If he succeeds, the better for all of us, if he fails, the freight forwarding industry will continue to grapple with its challenges even though I don’t pray for his failure”

Adeyanju, who is also the Vice -President of the Nigeria Labour,Congress(NLC),

relieved the problems which have hobbled the performance and efficiency of the CRFFN over the years to the point that the workers in that organization were owed salaries for a year.

” When the council became one of our affiliate members, we discovered that there were lot of crises in the council, in- fighting as workers were writing petitions against themselves.

” Salaries were being owed while the workers were suffering.

“But when we came in, we had to write a letter to the Minister who graciously promised us through the Permanent Secretary, to wade into the crisis.

” I learnt the government, through the NPA,has given the Council bail out twice last year, the last one was shortly before the Christmas/ New Year holiday.

” I want to thank the Minister for his intervention, especially for the bail- outs and appointment of someone from the freight forwarding industry as the new Registrar which clearly shows he is a workers- friendly person” the labour leader noted.

He however wondered how long would the CRFFN depend on government bailouts.

” This is the reason why we all need to support the new Registrar to succeed so that the council will function and become vibrant to cater to the aspirations of the teeming freight forwarders who are daily grappling with numerous challenges in the industry” Adeyanju observed.

Watch out for the full interview