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Four months to expiration of tenure: APFFLON asks CRFFN Registrar to proceed on terminal leave

National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite.
–Alleges protection from prosecution by ministry of transportation
The Eyewitness reporter
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, (APFFLON) has called on the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Barrister Samuel Nwakohu to immediately proceed on a terminal leave preparatory to his disengagement from the council.
The four-year tenure of Barrister Nwakohu as the Registrar of the CRFFN ends in February 2023.
He was appointed in February 2019.
Making the call for his immediate disengagement was the National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite.
Otunba Ogunojemite, who was a guest Thursday at the roundtable event organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, (MARAN) in Lagos, observed that the immediate disengagement of Samuel Nwakohu from the  CRFFN was imperative due to the fact that the council has derailed from its core mandate under the leadership of the Registrar.
The APFFLON president said the Registrar has to give way for a thorough and comprehensive reformation of the council to take place.
While urging the council to focus more on reformation than its present preoccupation on accreditation, Ogunojemite lamented that this misplaced priority by the board has affected the image of the body which he said harbours redundant accredited associations.
The APFFLON president alleged unholy collaboration between the CRFFN Registrar and the supervising ministry of Transportation which he claimed was shielding the Registrar from prosecution despite the avalanche of allegations against him.
“There is an issue that needs to be addressed, for instance, the Registrar is supposed to be leaving the Council because this is his 4th year, he is supposed to have proceeded on terminal leave to hand over, while there is supposed to be vacancies for the next Registrar.
” But we do not know the collaboration between the Permanent Secretary and the Registrar that makes them to be keeping the Registrar.
“There are a lot of allegations against the Registrar, we did not see the outcome; we are just being kept incommunicado.
“So it is not accreditation that matters to APFFLON but reformation of the industry, we want to be proud of our industry.
“We had a meeting sometime ago and the purpose of the meeting was for the reformation in the industry.
“We had issues with the CRFFN in the court and we have started processing to come out of court based on the response that things we want should be done in the Council.
“APFFLON found that a lot of people have violated the Council’s Act, for instance, it is in section 19 of the CRFFN Act, that if you do not pay your subscription within six months, you should be deregistered, we found that so many associations did not pay for years, and they have not been deregistered.
“For God’s sake, we are not on an animal farm. It is people who claim to be accredited and you have an issue that is supposed to be addressed by the Council and you went to court, which automatically earns you expulsion, and it is not being done. Then you want the Council to be effective when people violate the Act.
“We can rate those that have been accredited, what are their achievements? What are they doing? Accreditation is little to APFFLON what is important is reformations.
“His (Registrar) tenure is ending, he should proceed on terminal leave, we need reformation, and we want the Council to work.
“We are ashamed to present our Council with others like the lawyers, engineers etc.
“Look at the issue of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association, FIATA, how can the Council represent us in FIATA?
” It is never done; it is supposed to be an umbrella for all the freight forwarders than to be representing us at FIATA.
“There is an extent to which professionals can make decisions in the Council because the government has half and we have half. So how do we agree to disagree? So the issue for APFFLON is the reformation of the industry.
“There is no accredited association in this country because all of them are not competent to be accredited. Some of them have not paid their subscriptions, and the Act says if you do not pay, you will be deregistered.  They said the only disqualified association APFFLON.
“APFFLON is overqualified, we have over 1000 members we are up to date. Some of them are inactive except APFFLON.” Ogunojemite claimed.
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Customs

KLT Customs reaffirms commitment to stronger maritime stakeholder engagement

Deputy Comptroller Bolaji Adigun

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter
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‎The Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller Bolaji Adigun, has reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to deepening engagement with stakeholders across the maritime industry in line with efforts to promote trade facilitation, transparency, and sustainable economic growth.
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‎Adigun gave the assurance through the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Administration, Comptroller T.A. Jonah, who represented him during a courtesy visit by the newly elected Executive Committee of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) to the Command in Lagos.
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‎The Acting CAC, who was unavoidably absent, underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and key industry stakeholders, particularly the maritime media, in advancing the Service’s mandate and supporting national economic development.
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‎He described the media as a critical partner in disseminating information on government policies, customs reforms, trade facilitation initiatives, revenue generation, and anti-smuggling operations.
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‎According to him, maritime journalists occupy a strategic position in shaping public understanding and perception of activities within the port and maritime sector, stressing the need for professionalism, accuracy, and balanced reportage in the discharge of their duties.
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‎Adigun further assured the MARAN delegation that the KLT Area Command would continue to operate an open-door policy while fostering cordial and productive relationships with stakeholders within the maritime community.
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‎Earlier in his remarks, the President of MARAN, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, stated that the visit formed part of the association’s ongoing stakeholder engagement initiative following the inauguration of its newly elected executive committee.
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‎Onigbinde explained that the purpose of the visit was to formally introduce the new leadership of the association to the Command and strengthen the longstanding relationship between MARAN and the Nigeria Customs Service.
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‎He commended the KLT Area Command for its contributions to trade facilitation, revenue generation, and enforcement activities, describing the Command as a vital component of Customs operations within Nigeria’s port system.
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‎The MARAN President also reaffirmed the association’s commitment to professional, objective, and development-driven journalism, noting that maritime reporters play a significant role in promoting informed discourse on issues affecting the industry.
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‎He further assured the Command of MARAN’s continued support for initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness within Nigeria’s maritime sector through responsible and factual reporting.

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Headlines

One infant, three adults die, several others sustain injuries in fatal train derailment along Warri- Itakpe route 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed the death of four passengers in a train derailment along the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor near Agbor, Delta State on Monday, June 8th, 2026.
Several others suffered various degrees of injuries.
In a statement by the Ministry of Transportation  and signed by its Permanent Secretary, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, the victims included two female adults, one male adult and one infant.
The accident involved four coaches which reportedly capsized while one coach derailed, resulting in the unfortunate loss of four lives.
The statement confirmed that a total of 442 passengers were booked on the train, while 40 crew members, security personnel, and third-party service providers were also on board, bringing the total number of persons on the train to 482.
The NRC had activated immediate rescue and evacuation operations with the support of the Delta State Government, NEMA, FRSC, the Police, Civil Defence, local authorities, security agencies, and other emergency responders, and were completed by 6:30 p.m on Monday .
The Injured passengers were evacuated to medical facilities in Agbor for treatment.
 Other notable individuals on board included the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Patrick Ukah, among others.
As of the time of this release, 24 serious injuries have been recorded, while several other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical attention.
One NRC staff member suffered a traumatic limb injury and is currently receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.
“The Ministry and the NRC extend their deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the quick recovery of all those injured.
“The Corporation also appreciates the swift intervention of the Delta State Government, emergency responders, security agencies, the NRC Mechanical Directorate, the Special Rescue and Emergency Team, medical personnel, and members of the public who assisted in the rescue efforts” the statement declared.
The ministry said full onboard manifest has been retrieved and will be made available upon request by the relevant authorities while efforts are ongoing to identify all the injured and deceased persons for proper documentation.
The Ministry in conjunction with the NRC have commenced a full investigation into the cause of the accident while efforts will continue to account for all passengers and provide the necessary support to those affected.
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Commentaries

Why Nigeria must prioritize competency development and standards to harness gains of  blue economy

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
Nigeria is endowed with vast maritime resources which offer enormous opportunities for economic growth, employment generation, food security, and environmental sustainability.
With its fabled over 850 kilometers of coastline, extensive inland waterways, and strategic access to the Gulf of Guinea, the country is naturally blessed to emerge as a hub for maritime activities in Africa.
However , taking advantage of these huge massive maritime opportunities should be the priority of Nigerian government which must be intentional on developing competency level of its Maritime professionals and raise their
adherence to international standards.
The blue economy encompasses diverse sectors including shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, offshore energy, maritime logistics, shipbuilding, and marine environmental management.
 These sectors are highly knowledge-driven and require a workforce equipped with specialized skills and globally recognized certifications.
Without competent professionals, Nigeria risks losing economic opportunities to countries with better-trained maritime personnel and stronger institutional frameworks.
Competency development is essential for enhancing productivity, safety, and operational efficiency across the maritime sector.
Skilled seafarers, marine engineers, port operators, logistics professionals, and environmental experts are critical to ensuring that maritime activities meet international best practices.
 As global shipping and offshore industries become increasingly technology-driven, continuous training and capacity building are necessary to keep Nigerian professionals competitive in the international labour market.
Skilled maritime professionals such as seafarers, marine engineers and allied personnel in the sector could be sources of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria as they could be exported to the international community.
Philippines and India are the world’s top exporters of skilled maritime personnel such as seafarers where they get the chunk of their foreign exchange.
If Nigeria could develop such capacity in skilled labourers in the sector and export their expertise, the country could harvest bountifully from such venture.
Equally important is the adoption and enforcement of internationally recognized standards.
Standards provide the framework for quality assurance, safety management, environmental protection, and operational excellence.
Compliance with global maritime standards established by organizations such as the International Maritime Organization(IMO) and the Nautical Institute enhances Nigeria’s credibility as a maritime nation and attracts foreign investment.
Investors and international partners are more likely to engage with institutions and businesses that demonstrate compliance with recognized benchmarks.
That is why the recent certification of the Maritime Centre of Excellence operated by NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited by the  UK Nautical Institute is germaine to Nigeria’s quest to develop training capacity and build compliance with standard procedures
This feat also underscores the importance of world-class training institutions in building local capacity.
That is why the  government should give necessary assistance to training institutions in Nigeria such as Maritime Academy of Nigeria(MAN),  Oron and the Maritime Centre of Excellence operated by NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited.
Such government patronage and assistance will not only improve the quality of maritime training in Nigeria but also position the country as a regional centre  for maritime education and professional development.
Prioritizing competency development and standards will also contribute significantly to maritime safety and environmental sustainability.
Well-trained personnel are better equipped to prevent accidents, manage maritime risks, and respond effectively to emergencies.
 Furthermore, adherence to environmental standards helps reduce marine pollution, protect biodiversity, and ensure the sustainable utilization of ocean resources, which are fundamental pillars of the blue economy.
From an economic perspective, a competent workforce and strong standards framework can increase Nigeria’s participation in global maritime trade, create high-value jobs, reduce dependence on foreign expertise, and improve the country’s competitiveness.
 It also supports local content development by enabling Nigerian professionals and companies to meet the requirements of international contracts and projects.
In conclusion, competency development and standards are not optional components of Nigeria’s blue economy strategy; they are foundational requirements for its success.
 By investing in human capital, strengthening training institutions, and enforcing internationally accepted standards, Nigeria can fully harness the immense potential of its maritime resources and transform the blue economy into a major driver of national development, economic diversification, and sustainable growth.
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