By Godwin Oritse

Chairman, Governing Council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju, has appealed to parties  involved in the crisis currently rocking  the freight forwarding industry, even as he congratulated Nigeria for achieving the feat of obtaining accreditation from the global International Federation of Freight Forwarding Associations, FIATA.

The CRFFN chairman, who spoke for the first time since FIATA granted approval to Nigeria to start running diploma programmes in Freight Forwarding and Logistics, explained that the accreditation confirmed that his leadership was purpose-driven.

Olanrewaju said: “I thank God that we have achieved that feat. We were committed to it and we gave it all that we should. It’s a our noble contribution to the growth of our profession.”

He affirmed that with the approval, Nigerian universities and other higher institutions can now offer courses in freight forwarding.

“Whatever certificates that are issued by the institutions are recognised all over the world, and once you get the Higher Diploma, you can use it for your Masters degree anywhere in the world,” he added.

On the lingering face-off, he advised that people should look beyond their personal interests, because, according to him, “CRFFN is nobody’s personal estate. We came in, and we must leave. but whatever we do when we are there is what those coming behind us will point at.”

The CRFFN boss recalled that the council was far better than what it was about two years ago, adding that the standard was achieved by a united governing board.

He said: “The council is not my father’s property. What I have done is my own way of giving back to the industry in which I have been involved for decades.”

He called attention to the fact that what was being achieved now was what countries like South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt and Zimbabwe achieved many years ago.

Olanrewaju said: “Ghana has been accredited by FIATA for about 15 years, and that is why it was easy for it to commence Single Window without stress.

“All these countries have freight forwarding institutes that are being supported and funded by FIATA. Why can’t we stop bickering and emulate good things?”

According to him, more than 75 percent of freight forwarding practitioners in Nigeria do not have any education about the profession. He said what the FIATA accreditation would do is to take them to the classroom to begin to learn how to do things in ways that would  elevate them and even the country.

He said: “We always complain that foreigners do clearing and logistics in Nigeria. How many Nigerian practitioners are known beyond Apapa?

“So who will consign multi-billion Naira project cargoes into their hands? Who will want to patronise them beyond the containers and the cars that they clear?

“There is a lot to freight forwarding than what we are doing currently.”