Freight Forwarders’ Abuja Training Edifice Is 95% Complete – Uromta

• CRFFN, NCMDLCA strengthen partnership to address freight forwarding woes

National Institute of Freight Forwarders (NIFF), a new exquisite training and hospitable facility for freight forwarders, in Abuja has reached 95 percent completion.

The Acting Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Mrs. Chinyere Uromta disclosed this in Lagos on Friday, while engaging with the leadership of National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents (NCMDCLA).

According to Uromta, the facility which is primarily for training freight forwarding executives in the Federal Capital Territory (FTC) also has state-of-the-art hospitable rooms and halls for events and lectures.

She encouraged Nigerian freight forwarders to patronize the CRFFN edifice when it becomes operational in few months, after a launch by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON.

Meanwhile, in a bid to tackle the multifaceted challenges plaguing freight forwarders at Nigerian ports the CRFFN has strengthened its synergy with the NCMDCLA.

Both organizations reaffirmed this strategic partnership when the Acting CRFFN Registrar, Mrs. Chinyere Uromta led a management team on a courtesy visit to the NCMDCLA headquarters in Lagos, on Friday.

According to the Registrar, the Council has resolved to partner with NCMDLCA and other freight forwarding to enshrine professionalism in the practice while working assiduously to address the challenges encountered in cargo clearance and other aspects of the logistics/ supply chain business.

Her words: “I want to start by appreciating this professional group for your support and co-operation since the establishment of CRFFN, especially since I took over in acting capacity, the leadership of CRFFN. I appreciate your support in all aspects of our operations. With regards membership registration and collection of Practitioners operating fee (POF), your Association is undoubtedly a strong pillar of support for the economy in general and the marine sector and CRFFN in particular.”

“The current administration under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu is aware of the importance of this sector to the economy and national building and invariably understand how core freight forwarders are to the national growth, hence the creation of a full fledge ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. We must therefore plug in to the opportunity for visibility and relevance by ensuring we cooperate and collaborate totally with activities of the government to make sure we are part of actualization of Renewed Hope mandate.”

On his part, the President of NCMDCLA, Mr. Ifeanyi Anekweze, advised the CRFFN to take leadership by playing a crucial role in tackling freight forwarding issues in the country.

Anekweze observed that in recent weeks the exchange rate for Customs duty has increased significantly without anyone speaking to the Ministry of Finance and the Presidency from the point of view of freight forwarders.

The NCMDLCA President noted that after CRFFN was established, most freight forwarding groups jettisoned the former culture of holding frequent strikes at ports to protest anomalies as CRFFN was seen as the agency to fight for practitioners.

While describing the NCMDLCA as a unique group with over 600 members who are Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agencies, Anekweze opined that internal crisis hindered the group over the years and encouraged CRFFN to also help resolve the conflict.