The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Sir, Mike Jukwe has declared that the council will soon evolve a standard trading practice to guide the operations of freight forwarders, inspections agents, banks, and customs.

Sir Jukwe made this known, when he paid a courtesy visit to Nagaff Village in Lagos stated that if anything goes wrong, the freight forwarders will be protected by the guidelines unlike before when they are left alone when problem arises.

According to him, “The Freight Forwarders role is as important as that of the customs service, they are partners with customs, and at the appropriate time, a percentage of the practicing fee paid into the federation account, will be granted us”.

“There will soon be a standard trading practice to guide the operations of a freight forwarder, inspection agents, banks and customs, and if anything goes wrong the freight forwarder will be protected by the guideline, unlike before when they are left alone when problem arises,” he said.

Sir Jukwe, congratulated the founder and Chairman BOT Nagaff, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam for all his efforts towards the success of the council over years.

On practicing fee, Jukwe said, the issue of practicing fee is ongoing, we have been discussing about it with the people concerned, out of what will have put in the federation account, a percentage will go to ewach association, according to what is due to them.

“In the register we have 1435 individuals who were registered as Freight Forwarders in Nigeria as of 28th January 2012 and 405 corporate companies.

He further warned that individuals can not practice the profession except you belong to a company.

He noted that for the council to succeed, we need to work in harmony.

The Registrar also informed the Freight Forwarders that the tenure of the present Governing Council of CRFFN will expire in August 2012 and new members will be elected into various key positions.

5 to cargo Airport and Border and there will be 15 positions in all, adding modalities for elections will be made known soon.

“As for customs brokers, there is need for training, we are professionals and not touts. We should be proud of our profession,” adding as such, the title of the profession should go before our name and it should also be included on our letter headed papers”.

“Once the institution of training is registered, different courses offers after years of study, you will have qualification such like a fellow, a certified customs, brokers, etc.

In his welcome address, the National President, Nagaff, Mr. Eugene Nweke stated that the visit is indeed historic in the existence of Freight Forwarding practice in Nigeria, adding that the vision to revolutionalise freight forwarding practice in Nigeria was concerned and nurtured in Nagaff over 12 years ago.

Nweke thanked the council for their visit noting that the council visit was a “home coming” that will put the history of Freight forwarding in Nigeria in proper perspective.

“As our regulatory body, we would definitely need your support and encouragement in fostering sustainable customs brokerage practice in the country through these affiliations and profound political representations in CRFFN’s governing council.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos