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CRFFN survival hangs in balance as court nullifies collection of POF from Customs Agents

–lacks powers to regulate Customs licensed agents
–ministerial directive of 2017 on collection of POF is illegal 
Funso OLOJO/ Gloria Odion 
The thin thread of survival which the Council of Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria(CRFFN) is delicately hanging onto is currently being threatened as the Lagos High Court has nullified the collection of Practitioners Operating Fee(POF) by the Council.
It would be recalled that due to the paucity of funding by government to support the CRFFN, the government created an ingenious way which the CRFFN could be generating revenue internally through the collection of practicing fees from freight forwarding industry practitioners called POF.
However, in 2017, the then Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi made a declaration that all freight forwarders operating in the Nigerian Ports should pay a fee called the POF to be collected by the CRFFN.
The directive further tied the access of any freight forwarder to the Port and taking delivery of his goods to the payment of the fee.
However, in 2018, the National Council of Managing Directors of Licenced Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) approached a Lagos High Court in order to stop the collection of the controversial POF which commenced in 2017.
In the suit No. FHC/CS/765/2018, filed before Justice D.E Osiagor of the Lagos High Court, the Council of Managing Directors sought the following reliefs:
“A  declaration that the business of Licensed Customs Agents(LCA) is not under the control and regulation of the Ministry of Transportation and Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria(CRFFN).
“A declaration that Licensed Customs Agents and the Business of Licensed Customs Agents, and the right of Licensed Customs Agents to enter the Port to conduct and carry out business of Licensed Custom Agent is created and regulated by the Customs and Excise Management Act.
“A declaration that Licensed Customs Agents and the Business of Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders and the Business of freight Forwarding are functionally and operationally different bodies and business under the control, regulation and supervision of different and separate Government Ministries and parastatal.
“A declaration that the Ministerial Directive mandating that  Council For the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria to Commence collection of Practitioners Operating Fees(POF) and that the Payment of Practitioners Operating Fees is a requirement for release and delivery of cargo from the sea-Ports, AirPort and Land Borders Station is ultra vires, the power of Minister of Transportation and therefore null and void.
“A declaration mandating the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) to ensure that all Licenses issued or renewed by the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) to ensure that all Licenses issued are renewed by Nigeria Custom Service(NCS) will first be cleared by Council For the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria(CRFFN) by conforming payment of Registration, Annual Subscription and Practitioners Operating Fess as it affect the business of Licensed Customs Agents is ultra vires the power of the Minister of Transportation and thus null and void.
“A declaration that the Ministerial Directive mandating that Security Gate-Passes for access to Seaport and International Cargo Airport and Land Border Ports be issued by Council For the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria is ultra vires the Ministerial power and thus null and void.
In the originating summon disposed to by Mr Lucky Eyis Amiwero, the National President of Council of Managing Directors, the association sought an order of the court for the following:
“AN order revoking and quashing the Ministerial Directive of the 2nd Defendant issued and published in Vanguard Newspaper issued on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at page 29 only relates to the business and operation of Licensed Customs Agents.
“AN order that Licensed Customs Agents be allowed access to the Seaport, Cargo Air ports to carry on their legitimate business upon presentation of valid license as registered Licensed Customs Agents.
The defendants in the suit were the Honorable Minister of Transportation, the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) and the Council For the Regulation of Freight Forwarding(CRFFN) in Nigeria.
In his landmark ruling on May,26th, 2025, Justice D.E Osiagor granted all the reliefs and orders sought by the Plaintiff,the Council of Managing Directors.
The Judge therefore made the following declarations
“The regulation of Licensed Customs Agents is governed squarely by the Customs and Excise Management Act, which provides a comprehensive legal frame for the licensing and oversight of Customs operation in Nigeria specifically:
“THE MINISTER CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REGULATING , LICENSING LICENSED CUSTOMS AGENT IS THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND NOT TRANSPORT
“It follows that only the Minister of Finance, acting through the Nigeria Custom Service is statutorily authorized to regulate the business and operation of Licensed Customs Agents.
“The Honorable Minister of Transportation is not recognized under the Customs Act as having any supervisory or regulatory role in this regard.
“The (CRFFN) Act established a Council to regulate Freight Forwarders- A profession distinct from License Customs Agents.
“Under Section 4 the (CRFFN) is empowered to determine qualification, register Freight Forwarders, and Set standard for practice
“License Customs Agent(LCA) is a distinct profession from Freight forwarders.
“The Regulatory reach of (CRFFN) does not extend to Customs Agents under the Customs Act, therefore, any attempt to subject Licensed Customs Agents to (CRFFN) regulation, include payment of Practitioners Operating Fees(POF) lacks legal foundation
“Licensed Customs Agents(LCA) are not subjected to the regulation of (CRFFN), include payment of Practitioners Operating Fees(POF)  lack legal foundation
“The Minsters Directives that only person cleared by CRFFN including payment of registration, subscription and Practitioners Operating Fees(POF) may  access the Port or renew Customs Licenses, is ultra vires,imposing unauthorized regulatory condition on Customs Agents(LCA) who are neither under the supervision of(CRFFN)
“The Honorable Minster of Transportation lacks the Legal authority to issue directive regulating the business and operation of Licensed Customs Agents. The directive is ultra vires, null and void as the encroachment upon the statutory function of the Minister of Finance.
“Licensed Customs Agents(LCA) are governed by CEMA, which vest regulatory control in the Nigeria Customs Service and the Minister of Finance.
“However, mandates that these Licensed Customs Agent(LCA) must first be cleared by the (CRFFN) a separate regulatory body established under a different statute, for purposes of obtaining port access of Custom License renewal.
“This create a direct and irreconcilable conflict of Laws, Customs Agent already Licensed under CEMA, are being subjected to a second, unauthorized layer of regulation.
“This duplicity undermines legal certainty and introduces regulatory confusion, in breach of Section 153 and 156 of CEMA, which vest exclusive Licensing authority in the Minister of Finance.
“It follows therefore that the Licensed Customs Agents(LCA) should not be subjected to overlapping and conflicting obligation stemming from separate and different statutory authorities without express legal backing.
“Secondly, the directive imposes the payment of Practitioners Operating Fees(POF) as a condition for port access and license renewal, even though there is no statutory obligation under CEMA for such payment.
” This amount to an unlawful financial imposition on class of professional who are already operating under a different statutory scheme, imposing financial obligation without clear legislative authority constitutes an abuse of executive power and violates the principle of legality.
“The directive further mandates that the issuance of security gate-passes for access to Port shall be subjected to  the (CRFFN) certification and payment of fess, this directly weakens/ impairs the ability of the Licensed Customs Agents to carry out their statutory duties at the Port, by conditioning their access on compliance with unauthorized requirements .
“The directive places the livelihood of these Licensed Customs Agents(LCA) at risk, and exposes them to arbitrary denial of access to the operational zones of their profession. Such regulatory overreach amount to constructive exclusion from lawful business and infringes the constitutional right to freedom of trade and profession guaranteed  under section
16(1)(b) and Section 17(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution( as amended).
“Hence administrative actions that violate statutory or constitutional right must be struck down.
“Fourthly, the Ministerial directives is ultra vires, the power of the Minister of Transportation, it is settled law that an act done in excess of statutory authority is null and void and cannot have legal effect.
“The Directive creates legal Jeopardy for Licensed Customs Agent(LCA) by compelling them to comply with illegitimate demands, there placing them in a position of conflict with their primary regulator- the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS)”
” Licensed Customs Agents shall not be subjected to regulatory control by (CRFFN) or required to pay  fees or obtain clearance from (CRFFN) as a condition for access to  Ports or renewal of  their Licenses under Customs Act; the two questions for determination are resolved in favor of the Plaintiff/licensed Customs Agents(LCA)” declared Justice Osiagor in his final ruling.
Following this ruling, stakeholders expressed fears over the survival of the CRFFN which has been struggling due to inadequate funding and gross maladministration deeply steeped in alleged misappropriation of its scarce resources.
The challenge of the regulator of the freight forwarding industry was further compounded by government declaration which removed some MDAs, including the CRFFN, from collection of annual financial hand outs.
” Now that the court has restricted the scope of the collection of the POF, which is its main source of funding as its internally generated revenue(IGR), the survival of the struggling council is hanging on a thread” a concerned freight forwarder observed.
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NIMASA opens investigation into vessels collision accident at Bonny anchorage as five crew members sustain injuries 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Administration(NIMASA) has opened a full scale investigation into the accident which occurred as a result of a collision between a container vessel, MV MAERSK VALPARAISO, and an oil tanker, MT LADY MARTINA, at the Bonny Inner Anchorage.

The accident which occurred on May 20th, 2026, has triggered a flurry of activities,  has resulted in an oil spill in the affected area.

The Deep Blue Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny received a distress call at approximately 1130 hours regarding the collision involving MV Valparaiso, a Singapore-flagged container vessel with IMO No. 9433054, and MT Lady Martina, a Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker with IMO No. 5104033.
In response, the Base immediately deployed 10 armed personnel onboard DB 214, one of the interceptor boats under the Deep Blue Project, to the scene of the incident.
Five crew members onboard MT Lady Martina sustained varying degrees of injuries and were promptly evacuated to the FOB Bonny sickbay for medical attention.

Following the collision, MT Lady Martina drifted ashore and is currently aground along the Bonny Channel, while MV Valparaiso remains grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending damage assessment and further investigation.

The management of MAERSK has officially reported the incident to the Agency.

Consequently, the Director General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, has ordered a full investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the collision.

In addition, NIMASA has established a Situation Monitoring Room to coordinate response efforts and monitor developments arising from the incident.

Dr. Mobereola, who was personally on ground in Rivers State to inaugurate the situation room,  also directed the Agency’s Marine Environment Management Department to immediately commence an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the affected area, while taking necessary steps to mitigate the impact of the Tier 1 oil sheen and protect the marine environment.

NIMASA promised to  update the public with the outcome of the investigation into the incident.

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NIMASA deepens maritime security as 492 Deep Blue personnel graduate in tactical training.

Funso OLOJO, Port Harcourt.
The Nigeria’s maritime security received a massive boost as 492 personnel of the iconic Deep Blue project have graduated from tactical trainings received across some of the best security institutions in the world.
Unveiling the graduants in their tactical attires at the Elele military barrack, Port Harcourt, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Administration( NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the occasion gave the agency a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment on its task to ensure Nigeria’s maritime domain is secured.
According to him, the 492 graduating Deep Blue personnel undergone specialized trainings conducted across several strategic training locations across the world, including Italy, Switzerland, Australia, Syria and
Nigeria.
He disclosed that the training has therefore exposed the personnel, taken from across different units of the Deep Blue project, to global best practices and international operational standards in maritime security operations.
“Today’s event is a demonstration of
operational readiness, institutional resilience and Nigeria’s determination to maintain a safe, secure and economically viable maritime environment.
“With many people are not fully aware of the level of operations and integration and technological capacity that supports these achievements.
“The Deep Blue architecture integrates two special mission aircraft equipped with advanced maritime surveillance sensors, three special mission helicopters for over-the-sea operations and surveillance, two special mission vessels for deep sea operations, eight unmanned aerial vehicles for real-time intelligence gathering, 16 fast interception boats for rapid tactical response and 15 armed coastal patrol vessels.
” The Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence Center, the C4I, serves as
the central coordination hub for military domain awareness and operational response.
“As many of you may recall, the Gulf of Guinea was once regarded as one of the most challenging military
maritime regions in the world due to incidents of piracy and robbery.
“Today, through the Deep Blue project and the collective efforts of all stakeholders, we are proud to say that Nigeria has
transformed the narrative which has resulted in zero piracy incidents since 2022.
“This has restored trust among global shipping operators, investors, and maritime stakeholders.
Mobereola expressed appreciation the Minister of Marine and Blue
Economy, Adeboyega Oyetola, for what he described as his exemplary leadership, strategic guidance, and steadfast commitment to promoting maritime security initiatives in Nigeria.
He also acknowledged the role the  Minister of Defense, General
Christopher Musa and the Minister of State for Defense, Dr. Belo
Matawale for their continued support and commitment towards strengthening national security and enhancing interagency cooperation in the maritime domain.
Mobereola commended  the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Army, the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services, (DSS) and all security and intelligence agencies whose professionalism and
cooperation continue to strengthen the operational success of the Deep Blue project.
Hee made special mention of Deep Blue project technical partner HLSI, Security Systems Technologies Limited, for their invaluable support, technical expertise, commitment to capacity development, and strategic partnership in the implementation and sustainability of the Deep Blue project.
NIMASA DG also congratulated the graduating personnel  for successfully completing the important steps of their professional journey.
“This strength you have received comes with enormous responsibility as you are expected to uphold high standards of professionalism, discipline, integrity, and the discharge of your duties.
Tge event was by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola,  the  Minister of Defense, General
Christopher Musa and the Minister of State for Defense, Dr. Belo
Matawale, high military personnel from Navy, Army and Sir force.
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WHO honors NFVCB over tobacco control in entertainment industry

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has been honoured with the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General’s Special Award, African Region, receiving a Certificate of Appreciation for its outstanding contributions to tobacco control advocacy and the promotion of responsible media content in Nigeria.
 The NFVCB is the only institution among the five-person African Region winners unveiled as part of the activities commemorating World No Tobacco Day.
This recognition by the DG of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, acknowledges the Board’s leadership in regulating the depiction and promotion of tobacco and nicotine products in Nigerian films, music videos, skits, and other audiovisual content, particularly those accessible to young audiences.
 The WHO Director-General’s Awards are presented annually ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31 to honour individuals and organizations across WHO’s six regions for exceptional work in advancing the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
NFVCB was recognized for its landmark 2024 regulations prohibiting the promotion, and glamourization of tobacco and nicotine products in entertainment content.
The regulations require that any necessary depiction of tobacco use in films and videos must carry health warnings, receive the highest classification rating, and be restricted to audiences aged 18 years and above.
The regulations also mandate producers to place a disclaimer and disclose any relationship with the tobacco and nicotine industry while prohibiting tobacco brand display and product placement in entertainment content.
The policy aligns with the implementation guidelines of Article 13 of the WHO FCTC on tobacco depiction in entertainment media.
With the introduction of the regulations, Nigeria became the first country in Africa and only the second globally to establish such comprehensive safeguards against the glamorization of tobacco use on screen.
Research and WHO guidance have consistently shown that the portrayal of tobacco use in entertainment media normalizes smoking behaviour and increases the likelihood of tobacco uptake among young people.
Through clear regulatory standards, the Board is helping to reduce exposure to pro-tobacco imagery while promoting socially responsible storytelling within Nigeria’s creative industry.
The recognition also aligns with the 8-Point Agenda of the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, aimed at strengthening policy frameworks, promoting responsible creative content, preserving cultural values, and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s creative capital by 2030.
Speaking on the recognition, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NFVCB, Dr.Shaibu Husseini, described the award as a validation of the Board’s efforts toward promoting responsible storytelling and safeguarding public interest through effective content regulation.
“This award is a validation of the work we have done with the Nigerian creative industry to promote responsible storytelling.
“The goal has never been to censor art, but to ensure that our films do not inadvertently market products that are harmful to public health,” he stated.
 Dr. Husseini reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote healthy societal values, protect children and vulnerable audiences, and strengthen the positive influence of Nigeria’s entertainment industry globally.
The ED also expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, filmmakers, producers, and advocacy partners, especially Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), National Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), for their collaboration in advancing the policy.
The Board stated that it would continue to strengthen enforcement of the regulations, expand public education and stakeholder engagement, and deepen collaboration with WHO, the WHO FCTC Secretariat, and relevant stakeholders in promoting responsible entertainment content and public health protection.
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