Who Owns Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria?

As if they anticipated it and already had a prepared response, leaders of some freight forwarding associations have poured venom on the immediate past national president of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Sir Ernest Elochukwu.

Their grouse is that he claimed that the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is ‘owned’ by the ANLCA.

In quick succession, the Founder of NAGAFF; Dr Boniface Aniebonam and the a chieftain of Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (ARFFN); Mr Innocent Elum have called Elochukwu  (and his ANLCA) names.

While it’s true that Elochukwu made the ‘volatile’ statement, while campaigning for a seat in his association‘s Board of Trustees, does it make it accurate?

Elochkuwu’s justification for his association’s ownership is that (in his understanding), ANLCA members control most of the customs licenses through which they secured their membership of CRFFN.

Even if this claim is true, has he forgotten or doesn’t he know that, membership of CRFFN is not for customs license holders only. The sooner ANLCA and its members understand and accept the fact that CRFFN is for freight forwarders, and not ‘clearing agents’ only, the better for them.

Even if it is true, can an agency that is created by an Act of the Nigerian National Assembly ‘belong’ solely (as if it were a property) to a group? The answer is NO.

The CRFFN which is established by Act No 16 of 2007 was statutorily established to superintend affairs of freight forwarders and freight forwarding associations.

Apart from ANLCA, and AREFFN and NAGAFF, there is also the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents.

CRFFN is neither a ‘property ‘of anyone or any group. It is a ‘property’ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.