Politics
FG Stops CRFFN From Collecting Transaction Fees
Federal Government has stopped the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) from further collection of the approved transaction fees, as a result of the petition written to the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar by the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
The National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu recently petitioned the Minister of Transport for the suspension of the collection of transaction fees by the CRFFN over the refusal of the council to discuss sharing formula of revenue with the accredited Freight Forwarding Association.
Shitttu’s resignation and petition to the Transport Minister, Malam Umar led to the suspension of the collection of the transaction fees, a move which has cost CRFFN over N200 million in two months and compounded its financial condition.
In a joint press conference, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, national President ANLCA and Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, founder NAGAFF in Lagos recently said the two associations appreciated the good gestures of the government over the approval of the transaction fees but expressed their reservation.
“We do hope that the leadership of our council and the honourable Minister do realise that the council does not have the mandate to regulate and control the Nigerian importers, we see it as an error to make such an approval and we guess that it is the reason the honourable Minister decided to reverse himself.
“In the future the CRFFN council can work out with the registered members who are the agents to the principals the best and legal manner such levy can be imposed”, the association advised.
They further claimed that “those who went to seek approval for collection of transaction fees, do not know what they were doing because the Minister does not have the power for approval of collection of money due to us. Section 6 of the council act is quite clear on the opportunity the council has to collect money from registered Freight forwarders and even the associations that they accredited. So you could see that they are making mistake”, they posited.
The duo of ANLCA and NAGAFF noted that elected members of CRFFN have a four-year tenure which expired on August, 14th, 2012, and declared that any action taken after the 14th of August, 2012 is an illegality on the part of the leadership of the council and as such the registration of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and the National Association of Air Freight Consolidators (NAFAC) is null and void.
Meanwhile, counter claims has trailed the suspension of the CRFFN Transaction fees. The management of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) in a letter dated 5th September, 2012, with reference number NCS/ADM/MGT/018/S.12/C/V. III, addressed to the Minister of Transport on the subject matter signed by Assistant Comptroller – General of Customs, Mr. Musa Tahir on behalf of the Controller-General stated that the approval granted to the CRFFN to collect sundry fees on import will increase the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports, adding that charges will no doubt cause delays in the clearance of goods thereby leading to port congestions,” the letter read in part.
The letter further reads that “Its implementation will further increase the cost of doing business in Nigeria with its attendant implication on the cost of goods and services in the country”.
Mr. Biodun Abolaji, member ARFFN, described opposing moves against the transaction fees as mischievous and parochial.
“Collection of transaction fees at the ports will not perpetuate corruption, will not increase cost of doing business at the ports but rather bring it down,” he added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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