Hard Times Await Illegal Freight Forwarders– Registrar

If rumours making the

rounds are any thing to go by, then no fewer than 100 Freight Forwarders operating in the Nigerian sea ports and land boarders may lose their jobs in the nearest future.

Although, registered with the council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), on all the rights and privileges to practice, but those that are not registered with the council will no longer be allowed to practice or carryout their freight forwarding business.

The Registrar of the council, Mr Mike Jukwe, who disclosed this said the action would take place next month when the council’s first annual conference would take place, where the registered corporate and individual freight forwarders would be unveiled and inducted.

According to him, “after the induction, they will now be entitled to use the title (“RFF”). Those who are not registered will no longer be allowed to practice or carry out their business activities at the ports and other points of entry throughout Nigeria.”

Mr Jukwe said more than 1,000 persons who parade themselves as freight forwarders in the various land and sea ports as well as air ports in Nigeria have not registered with the council or refused to come forward and verify their claims on their registration forms, hence they would be forced to stop operating their outfits at the ports.

He noted that to regulate and enforce the law in this country is not easy as people resist change even if it is for good, adding that this is the fallout of people who are used to association’s way of life as opposed to regulations.

The registrar of the council said to check touting at the ports, disciplinary panels would be set up and after the induction, registered practitioners would be issued with identity cards, code of conduct and formal training.

“We met a state of total disorder, chaos and all comers affairs. No standard, no skill and knowledge and a totally uncoordinated situation, but all this will soon be a thing of the past”, he concluded.