Amaechi Reads Riot Act to Freight Forwarders

Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has stated that freight forwarders who do not follow the established processes as stated by law will not be allowed to operate in Nigeria.

He enjoined all freight forwarders in Nigeria to take advantage of the certification process put in place by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to become professionally fit and competent as well as achieve the International Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management. Amaechi is the supervisory minister of CRFFN.

Amaechi said the certification, which is internationally recognised by the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association (FIATA), will not only educate and enlighten freight forwarders, but also improve the country’s performance index.

Speaking at the 2019 sensitisation workshop on ‘Freight Forwarding as a Career’ yesterday in Lagos, which was organised by CRFFN and ADG International Resources, the minister said: “Professionalising freight forwarding will improve the ease of doing business ratings and reduce smuggling activities, which are dangerous and inimical to the country’s economy. Any educated and enlightened freight forwarder will always find the space to fit in.

“We are also hopeful that all these efforts will yield better competitiveness in the industry because it is the freight forwarding activities that determine the logistics performance index and therefore the country’s competitiveness.”

Amaechi insisted that “only those who obey the law will be allowed to operate, adding that getting certified would be the first step to implementing the CRFFN law, and those who have refused to function within the law will be compelled to do so.”

Earlier in his address, the Registrar and CEO of CRFFN, Sam Nwakohu, said the governing council of the CRFFN has determined that the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management would be the minimum standard of qualification required to be registered as a freight forwarder in Nigeria.