Shipping Manifest

CRFFN dangles hammer over 'fake' freight forwarders 

         Determined to execute its mandate, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) says: “Only the registered and inducted freight forwarders as well as accredited associations of freight forwarders are allowed to practice forth-with or else the hand of the law will grip and prosecute offenders.”

The CRFFN Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Forwarder Mike Jukwe, stated this during the passing-out ceremony of CRFFN’s first batch of Western Zonal Enforcement Officers  in Lagos.

According to Jukwe, the inauguration of the enforcement officers is in line with the act setting up the CRFFN, which charged it with the responsibilities to regulate and control the practice of freight forwarding in Nigeria with a view to promoting highest standards of competence and best practices.

The enforcement officers, which Jukwe said, will soon be deployed to the western ports to arrest unregistered freight forwarders had a one week practical and theoretical intensive training on basic and rudimentary foot drills, physical education, characteristics and functions of an enforcement officer, arrest and investigation, use of tools, equipment for enforcement, self-defense mechanism, amongst others.

“The Directorate of Registration and Enforcement (R & C) attached great importance to this Beginners Course by employing the respected principles of the Special Investigation Bureau of the Nigerian Army, taking cognizance of the peculiarity of the terrain of the ports environment,” Jukwe said.

Also speaking, Chairman of the CRFFN, Forwarder Hakeem Olanrewaju, said that the enforcement officers will work with the Registration Committee to ensure that practicing freight forwarders, who are not registered with the council, are arrested and prosecuted.

Olanrewaju said that at the maiden induction held early this year, 1,435 individuals, 405 corporate bodies and two associations were inducted.

The occasion was attended by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Capt. Adamu Biu; National Presidents of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Mr. Eugene Nweke and Dr. Frank Ukor, respectively.