The President of the National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC), Prince Adeyinka Bakare PhD, has strongly advised that presidents of freight forwarding associations should refrain from seeking positions on the governing council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
In an exclusive interview, Bakare argued that the council, being a government entity, would compromise the independence of association leaders. “Once you’re on the council, you’re bound to support government policies—even when they conflict with the interests of freight forwarders,” he said.
Bakare emphasized the urgent need to amend the CRFFN Act, pointing out that the current structure lacks clarity. “The Act repeatedly refers to ‘the council’ without distinguishing between its roles as a governing board, a management body, and a regulatory agency,” he noted. This ambiguity, he said, undermines the authority of the Registrar and creates confusion in the council’s operations.
As a former member of the CRFFN board, Bakare criticized its bloated composition. With 32 members—17 of whom are civil servants—he argued that many lack the industry knowledge necessary to guide the council effectively. He suggested streamlining the board to include fewer, more qualified freight forwarders.
Bakare also urged the council to diversify its revenue sources rather than relying solely on the controversial Practitioner Operating Fee (POF). “There are other viable avenues for generating income that the council hasn’t explored,” he said.
Responding to claims of bias against the CRFFN Registrar, Bakare dismissed the notion of a coordinated opposition. “This isn’t about personalities or associations. Stakeholders are simply demanding that court judgments be respected. If the council disagrees, it should seek a stay of execution through proper legal channels,” he stated.