CRFFN Seeks Collaboration With Stakeholders on Seamless Operations, Trade Facilitation

CRFFN Seeks Collaboration With Stakeholders on Seamless Operations, Trade Facilitation

By Ifeanyi Nwaoha

The newly appointed Registrar of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Mr. Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe has carried the crusade of enlightenment of stakeholders to Eastern ports.The event that was well organized and fully attended by critical stakeholders in maritime, freight forwarders, trucks drivers, government agencies and partitioners from the Blue Economy. The auspicious occasion was held on March 14, in Port Harcourt, amid jubilation from participants over paradigm shift of doing new things, the enlightenment, education and other benefits for the stakeholders.
The CEO of CRFFN , Mr Igwe told the teaming participants that the Council has decided to bring the program to Eastern ports to educate, enlighten and equip them with best practices in the their services delivery, so as to facilitate trade and avoid operational conflicts and challenges while carrying out their legitimate businesses.
Vibrant Igwe told the crowd that the aim of the program is to bring education and training to port terminals, aimed at building capacity. and to find lasting solutions to issues that form bottle necks at ports.Such as wrong declaration, errors in classifications, DN and intimidation.
He asserted , “The essence of today gathering, is the first familiarization that is synergy. We are going to bring more of this kind of gathering. Basically, what we have achieved today is that of fusion, as what to do for the new regime, while waiting more of their expectations, even though information is there. We want to hear directly from them. So I am taking my time to explain most of things that are not very clear.
“Today they have come to know the essence of educating and providing educational activities, which is one of the mandates . Besides that, bring up standard of operations that will be seamless in the discharging of their services.
He pointed out that, the stakeholders would be taught the best way of doing their jobs, following laid down rules and regulations. This quality education is a collective efforts of ministries, government agencies and individuals to help the agency in achieving the set objectives, he stated.
He further posited, the best practice is not only how to do it but, it has to abide by set up strategy for the program. Adding, ‘even when they go out there, the language they speak can’t be alien to them and the disparity they won’t notice it.’
“We are here to build they afresh again. Thank God, for the support of staff, ministry and partitioners,” CEO said emphatically.
Speaking on the scope of CRFFN, he averred, ” By the provisions of the Acts, we are meant to regulate freight forwarding business, associations of truck drivers, even terminal operators in certain areas, warehouses operators, including shipments and not limited to courier services.”
This is where the issue of interagency comes up. We are going to collaborate with them, that is the essence of collaboration, he explained.
Some stakeholders who spoke, in their various opinions, first, Mr Ike Anselem chairman NAGAFF Onne Chapter, said, “today is especial day, the issues we have clamoring for, now FG has appointed a powerful partitioner, a professional in the area of freight and forwarding industry. I am happy this training, they marshalled out our challenges.We have to work in synergy, assiduously and make sure it succeeds and we have to pass the information to stakeholders, he opined. And he also sked for provision of social insurance coverage and busses. While Mr. Ngozi Uzohuo told him to address issues of 25% on DN, multiple alerts on port and shipping charges. The ECO said, ” We are proposing reformation, the introduction of National Single Window should address the issues” We are asking stakeholders to key into it.
The zonal head South- south/ Sout- east Mr. Ambrose Uwalaka was delighted that the event was a huge success while urging the stakeholders to synergise with the agency to facilitate trade.
The director Mr. Ben O and Mrs. Agnes A. Admin and many staff were in attendance.