As efforts are on to appoint a new Registrar/Chief Executive Officer for the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, APFFLON has called for an appointment of a maritime industry practitioner as a substantive Registrar of the Council.
The President of the association, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite who made this call in a chat with Primetime Reporters at his office in Lagos argued that what the Council needed at this point in time is an industry stakeholder who is knowledgeable about the workings of the industry and not an outsider who would come to learn on the job when what was needed from him was to hit the ground running from day one.
His words, “This industry will not move forward if we do not have a careful selection this time. This is because the day to day running of the Council rests squarely on the shoulders of the Registrar and not on the Governing Council. Get a knowledgeable Registrar, then you would have gotten it right at the CRFFN.
“To be honest with you, we need someone that is grounded in the industry, someone that is accustomed to the profession, someone who can operate with international best practices and is knowledgeable about the profession. We have had a lot of setbacks in this industry and that is why we have a lot of issues that seems to defy any known solution.
“We need an industry stakeholder because bringing outsider will further compound the problems in the profession.”
When reminded that the new Registrar, if appointed from any of the five CRFFN accredited freight forwarding associations, may not get the cooperation of other associations’ members as they will view every of his moves as favouring his (Registrar’s) association, he said, “You see, you have raised a very salient point but what I am pushing for is the appointment of an industry stakeholder who must not be a freight forwarder.
“We have a lot of sub-sectors in the maritime industry, people in the logistics sub sector, academia, Chamber of Shipping, Chamber of Commerce, export promotion, we have people who have served in various maritime agencies like Hassan Bello. We have people who know the industry inside out. Those are the people I am pushing for them to be appointed as Registrar of CRFFN.”
On his reaction to the directive by the Governing Council to the outgone Registrar, Barr. Samuel Nwakohu to hand over to Mrs. Chinyere Uromta being the most senior management staff to act in that capacity, the APFFLON boss described the directive as a welcome development while wishing the former Registrar success in his future endeavours.
“The good thing is that we must follow the rules of engagement. He has done his own turn, there is no need for extension. I don’t think he could have spent longer than this time if all the allegations against him have been addressed.
“As I am speaking to you, the outcome of the investigations on the allegations leveled against him has not been made public. All the same, he has done his own bit and I wish him well in his future endeavours. Let someone else take over and let’s see what he or she has to offer. Of course, there must be a change because we expect a change. So, to me, it is the right decision that the Governing Council had taken, the change is a welcome development.
“If the allegations against him have been verified, concluded and he is found guilty, he ought to have gone before now but despite the allegations, he has spent his time. I wish him well”, he submitted.
Photo: Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, President of APFFLON.
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