Freight forwarders ask CRFFN to resolve POF payment dispute

Freight forwarders have asked the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to provide a clear roadmap for resolving outstanding issues affecting practitioners and freight forwarding.

During a recent visit by the CRFFN leadership to the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in Apapa, Lagos, the practitioners raised concerns over the Practitioners’ Operating Fee (POF), with many members yet to receive their payments.

The freight forwarders also called for stronger regulation to curb the activities of unlicensed and unregistered operators, arguing that their activities undermine professionalism in the industry.

Speaking at the engagement session, the National President of NAGAFF, Tochukwu Ezisi, emphasised the need for CRFFN to work closely with the freight forwarders to address operational challenges.

He called for greater stakeholders’ engagement, capacity building and training, stressing that CRFFN must implement regular programmes to enhance the skills and knowledge of freight forwarders.

Also, Ezisi advocated formal recognition of freight forwarders’ roles in the maritime sector, urging their inclusion in decision-making processes.
“These demands are not just for the benefit of NAGAFF members but for the overall growth and regulation of the freight forwarding sector in Nigeria,” he stated.

Responding to the concerns, the Chief Executive Officer/Registrar, CRFFN, Kingsley Igwe, acknowledged the challenges in the POF collection process but noted that there is an ongoing reform to tackle them.

He admitted that inefficiencies, including technical glitches, bureaucratic bottlenecks and a lack of organised data, have resulted in significant revenue losses and hindered smooth transactions.

“As a matter of fact, in trying to solve the problem, we have lost huge revenue. Currently, we are facing network failures, platform unavailability and cases of double or multiple debits without reversal,” Igwe stated. He assured that CRFFN was actively working with the consultant responsible for POF collection to address the challenges.

Igwe also addressed the Declarant B payments, a mechanism designed to encourage compliance among freight forwarders.
He noted that the absence of a comprehensive and accurate database has made it difficult to determine rightful beneficiaries.

He further outlined plans to professionalise the industry through licensing, training, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation, a move aimed at streamlining operations and improving efficiency.

Igwe criticised the lack of strict regulations, which has allowed unregulated agents into the industry, causing inefficiencies and revenue losses.
“Not everyone should be able to claim they are a freight forwarder without proper certification. This is why we need to streamline regulations and professionalize the practice,” he emphasized.

He said to enhance industry knowledge and professionalism, CRFFN plans to refine its training curriculum in consultation with local and international industry experts.

Igwe stated that with these measures, the freight forwarding community in Nigeria will benefit from increased professionalism, reduced regulatory bottlenecks and improved access to training, which will foster a more competitive and compliant industry aligned with global trade standards.