Freight forwarders query CRFFN electoral process, seek FG’s intervention

The electoral process into the Governing Council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) as released by the Electoral Committee established by the Minister of Federal Ministry of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has continued to attract reactions from concerned freight forwarding organisations in the maritime industry.

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) queried the issue of notice of election, voters’ eligibility and selection of Abuja as the venue of the elections among other issues raised in the circular released by the Electoral Committee Chairman.

The Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, during a press conference at NAGAFF’s headquarters in Lagos, said the venue of the election is not appropriate considering the insecurity in accessing the state.

Aniebonam also said the time frame for this year’s election is short and would result in electing those considered unqualified to steer the affairs of the council.

Aniebonam added that the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Council should have carried out an extensive consultation before fixing a date for the election, as there are still issues that needed to be resolved from the source to help the Council succeed.

“In the last election, it took us about three months or so to prepare for that election, but this time around, it is only one month. How do we get the best among us? Looking at the CRFFN election, the process now is as that of election in Nigeria, forgetting that CRFFN is a professional body. There is nothing that stops any of us who have the capacity in terms of money to win the election and without even being a practitioner, so what is the essence of regulation and control?” he stated.

In the same vein, the Congregation of Registered Freight Forwarding Practitioners of Nigeria (CREFFPON) has raised fear that the elections into the council could be rigged.

The group, in a petition to the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, which was signed by its Desk Officer, Edwin Chukwudire Obi, expressed concern over some alleged illegalities in the registration process for registered freight forwarders associations.

The group said it had doubts if the election would be transparent, free, fair and credible as the system is open to all persons, including non-practitioners suspected to be street urchins.

The group further called for the urgent attention and intervention of the minister over critical concerns expressed by the practitioners.