In a strongly worded letter to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), has raised the alarm over the deteriorating state of freight forwarding associations registered under the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and called for an urgent audit.
The APFFLON letter signed by its President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, posited that reassessment of these associations would help preserve the integrity of ongoing sectoral reforms.
Ogunojemite urged the Minister to direct the Registrar of CRFFN to commence an immediate revalidation exercise, arguing that some of the associations currently operating under CRFFN are failing in their core obligations, undermining the regulatory progress achieved in recent years.
In the letter titled “Urgent Call for Intervention in Reassessing Freight Forwarding Associations to Sustain Sectoral Reforms”, he cited rampant non-compliance with CRFFN regulations, poor ethical standards, leadership crises, and weakening of internal governance as major issues threatening the credibility of these associations and their members.
Ogunojemite emphasized that the absence of credible and functional associations within the freight forwarding industry could erode public trust and reverse the gains of professionalism, accountability, and capacity-building already initiated by the Ministry and the CRFFN.
“This reassessment is critical not only to restore order and professionalism but also to ensure that only credible associations continue to partner with the government in advancing the goals of the Marine and Blue Economy sector,” the letter read in part.
He proposed that the reassessment exercise should cover four key areas: verification of regulatory and ethical compliance, auditing of membership integrity and governance structures, evaluation of each association’s contribution to industry development, and a decisive restructuring or disbandment of associations found wanting.
The call comes amid growing concerns within the maritime industry over the weakening influence of some freight forwarding associations, which many industry insiders say have lost their voice, relevance, and unity due to infighting and lack of clear direction.
Ogunojemite referenced the recent National Single Window seminar held at the Mariot Hotel, where the Minister advocated for transparency and accountability.
He recalled the Minister’s directive that the Managing Director of SW Global, Alhaji Nura Umar, renders a full account of the Practitioners Operating Fee (POF) to both the Minister’s office and the CRFFN Registrar.
Ogunojemite’s letter reflects the growing frustration among frontline freight forwarders who feel sidelined or inadequately represented, especially as CRFFN’s regulatory role becomes more critical to the success of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy objectives.
