By Foster Obi
Based on predictable reactions that follow the postponement of the elections into the governing board of the Council of Registered Freightforwarders of Nigeria (CRFFN), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has asked it members to sheath the sword as events unfold.
A statement signed by its Founder, Boniface Aniebonam said “it may not be news anymore that CRFFN Council Election has been postponed without any reason. What is important now shall be to manage these avoidable circumstances. Accordingly it shall be advised on the part of all concerned to conduct themselves responsibly in a democracy wherein the rule of law shall take center stage.
“The leaders of the various registered associations under CRFFN control and regulation and the contestants shall be meeting at NAGAFF village today the 28th of June 2018 to advance the course for the aggrieved to remain calm in the face of avoidable development. What is certain is that Government is in a better position to take steps at all time in the interest of the greater number of the public and/or the concerned stakeholders.
“The Government of the Federation has a mandate to protect and serve all Nigerians. Let us therefore always believe in their statutory duty and thus trusting their action wherein there is hope for remedy in the future. We therefore encourage all stakeholders to go about their normal businesses pending further directive from the Honourable Minister of Transportation on matters of election into the Council Board 2018.
“We urge all concerned to disregard all the rumours making the rounds around the ports while exercising patience with the Authority to ensure peaceful election. CRFFN as an Act of the National Assembly is established to control and regulate the freight forwarding profession in Nigeria under the supervision of the Transportation Ministry.
“Our duty shall be to support them at all times and engaging them constructively. And for the avoidance of doubt the proponents’ of unlimited freedom of association may wish to understand that it is an abuse of the same 1999 Constitution as amended. Any freight practitioner whose name is not found in the register of freight forwarders kept by the Registrar and or a member of the registered associations accredited by CRFFN should consider himself or herself a misnomer and to say the least an impostor in the freight forwarding profession in Nigeria.
“It is the mischief CRFFN is set out to cure for the emphasis. However the good news is that the Permanent Secretary of the Transportation Ministry Alhaji Zakari Sabiu has been proactive in resolving the postponed election soonest with the Hon. Minister of Transportation for the Council to commence its proper management and administration. In due course NAGAFF may make further statement as we try to find out the remote cause of the postponement,” the statement declared.
