Minister of Transportation Interventions has brought Integration in sea port Terminals -CRFFN Registrar
The Registrar and Managing Director of the Council for Freight Forwarding and Regulation In Nigeria (CRFFN) Sam Nwakohu Esq, has disclose that the timely intervention of the Hon Minister of Transportation Rt,Hon Rotimi Amaechi helped the council in intergrating with other sister agencies under the Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN) . He also enumerated some of the achievements of the council so far .
The MD stated that the agency has seen viable transformations, interactive engagement with other sister agencies and staff training within the period covered so far as the Registrar .
“There has been steady progress in the Council in spite of some constraints .The council is increasing in relevance and we have become very active in a number of national programs. Some member of our staff are currently serving in different national committees and promoting the cause of the council.
There is a noticeable level of response and payment of subscription. About twenty three new companies and sixty two individuals have registered with the council bringing the figures to one thousand , two hundred and fifty two (1252) and four thousand, two hundred and fifty(4250) respectively. There are plans for the publication of recognized Professionals, organizations and associations been made available to the public” Nwakohu stated.
The CRFFN boss also gave insight on the processes in getting CRFFN certifications.
“ In queries on Education are coming in by the day in with approved minimum standard and the deadline is 31st December 2021. Normalization of membership with FIATA our outstanding subscription with the international Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has been liquidated and we are awaiting official re-admission.
We encourage all practitioners to ensure they obtain the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding and supply Chain Management or its equivalent,(Executive Professional Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management) before the deadline” he added .
Sam Nwakohu also went further to expatiate on the Solid relationships that has been built by CRFFN and other sister agencies .
“ CRFFN was at the lead with the Registrar serving as the chairman of the Maritime Task force. Other member of the team are Nigerian Shippers Council, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Inland water way Agency (NIWA) and Nigerian Custom service (NCS).
During the said period, we along side Nigerian Shippers Council provided the needed transport and logistics for freight forwarders to transact their essential business. We have resolved a number of cases including demurrage and rent charges .In spite of our limited resources, we made donation to the government branded COVID 19” .
Sam Nwakohu also made some revelations on the activities of the CRFFN.
We have donated prevention kits to freight forwarding community, staff etc. and we bringing more visibility to the Council and engaging in Staff Promotions and also the release of the 2018 promotion results of the staff on CONRAISS 03 – 11 has been effected. Recommendations on Senior Staff Promotion is currently undergoing review while Management staff promotion is nearly completed. We are currently assisting the Nigerian Shippers Council in the project of international Recognition of Kaduna Inland Dry port (KIDP) as a Port of Origin and Destination through FIATA. Development of Digital Haulage SystemWe are currently working on developing a digital haulage system (uber-like system) to standardize the freight transportation in Nigeria and also Standardization Freight Forwarding Charges and Operating procedure.
In conjunction with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, we a developing the Cost of Cargo clearing (COCC) and standard operating procedures (SOP) for the freight forwarding industry . The Kano zonal Office construction is 0ver 95% completed .Two (2) new zonal offices have been created in Enugu and Sokoto and also institutional accreditations have been finalized for the purpose of increasing Freight forwarders’ access to our approved qualifications. These include University ofLagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto. Project vehicles Procurement and allocation of project vehicles have been concluded to facilitate work in All zones and offices. Secondly, we have successfully hosted two international webinars between June and August 2020 with another round coming up in October, 2020 . Sensitization Workshop on POF RegimeA and nation-wide sensitization workshop on POF regime has been concluded in Lagos,Portharcoourt and kano states representing the key operational zones of the Council. series of staff training across board including specialized ICT trainings to prove support for the sustainable operation of the POF regime has been conducted.
These are some of the achievements recorded so far, amongst others by CRFFN so far the MD concluded .