The Board of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called for greater professionalism and urgent government intervention in the freight forwarding industry, following recent developments that have stirred tension within the sector.
In a statement signed by Dr. Clement Iwegbuna, Head of Special Duties of the NAGAFF Board, the association expressed concern over what it described as disruptive actions by four of the five accredited freight forwarding associations under the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) namely, ANLCA, AREFF, NAFFAC, and NCMDLCA.
The concerns were raised in response to a joint press conference held by the four associations on July 18, 2024, which NAGAFF believes sought to undermine the authority of the CRFFN and destabilize ongoing regulatory efforts.
The NAGAFF Board stated that while it initially maintained silence on the matter to avoid being misconstrued as partisan or confrontational, it could no longer ignore what it described as coordinated actions capable of eroding professionalism and governance within the industry.
“It is unfortunate that these accredited associations, which are supposed to uphold the values and integrity of CRFFN, are now being seen to challenge and discredit its leadership, especially following the appointment of Mr. Kingsley Igwe as the new Registrar,” the statement read.
NAGAFF urged all freight forwarders to uphold ethical standards and regulatory compliance, stressing that only a united and professional industry can attract meaningful growth and policy support.
The association further appealed to the Federal Government to step in and take decisive action against what it termed “deliberate sabotage” aimed at destabilizing the industry’s regulatory structure.
“Stability in freight forwarding is vital to Nigeria’s trade logistics chain. We cannot allow personal or sectional interests to jeopardize the progress made so far in institutional reforms,” the statement concluded.
NAGAFF reaffirmed its commitment to supporting CRFFN’s mandate and working collaboratively with stakeholders to build a transparent, accountable, and professionally driven freight forwarding sector.
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