The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (AFPPLON) has petitioned the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, demanding a full disclosure of all revenues collected under the Practitioners Operating Fee (POF) till date.

The group, in a letter dated July 18, 2025, and signed by its President, Frank Ogunojemite, raised concerns over the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of the POF, a mandatory fee levied on freight forwarders.

The association urged Oyetola to compel the Managing Director of SW Global, Nura Umar, the technology firm contracted to collect the fee, to submit a comprehensive financial report detailing the total funds collected.

It also requested that the report be submitted to both the minister’s office and the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

AFPPLON anchored its demand on the minister’s recent call for transparency and accountability during the National Single Window seminar held in Lagos.

According to the association, the same principles should guide the management of POF revenue, which is critical to sustaining the freight forwarding business and the broader maritime logistics sector at large.

“Your timely directive in this regard will not only save the industry from impending collapse but will also preserve your administration’s legacy of transformative leadership and sectoral reform. I trust in your wisdom and commitment to repositioning our maritime economy for global competitiveness,” AFPPLON started.

The group raised concern that recent developments indicate that the foundation of the ongoing reforms is under serious threat due to the current state and conduct of some registered freight forwarding associations.

The association urged the minister to ensure restoration of order and professionalism to advance the goals of the marine and blue economy sector.

“The lack of uniformity in compliance, poor ethical standards, weakening representation, and internal leadership crises within many of these associations are eroding public trust and destabilising the regulatory goals the Ministry and CRFFN have worked diligently to implement.”
Without timely intervention, these groups may inadvertently collapse the very reforms intended to strengthen the industry,” the group warned.