The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), has unequivocally, passed a vote of confidence on the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and its Registrar, Mr Kingsley Igwe and clearly distance itself from the support declared by ANLCA, AREFF, NAFFAC for the judgement recently obtained by the Mr. Lucky Amiwero’s NCMDLCA in suit no. FHC/L/CS/765/2018, against the regulatory body for freight forwarders.

Maritime Nigeria recalls that the High Court ruling which has long been appealed against and a stay of execution filed by the CRFFN, held that the Council lacks the authority to regulate Customs Agents and collect the Practitioner Operating Fee (POF).

Addressing the media on the development,  National President of NAGAFF, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, disclosed that  Mr Amiwero has condemned the associations for exploiting his court victory, a development, Chief Ezisi said has exposed the opportunism of the four associations.

His words “Let it be known that ANLCA has long resisted CRFFN’s establishment, going as far as proposing a counter bill in the National Assembly. The real issue appears to be the appointment of Mr. Kingsley Igwe as Registrar, a former NAGAFF Secretary. From all indications, Igwe’s emergence triggered a litigation, not for legal rectitude but as a political vendetta,” Ezisi said.

He stated that those who no longer believe in the CRFFN mandate can exit the stage, even as he alleged that NAGAFF suspects the broader agenda of those attacking CRFFN is to sabotage the government reforms in the Marine and Blue Economy industry.

The NAGAFF  President called on the government to investigate the economic and regulatory sabotage being carried out under the guise of activism, saying ANLCA and NCMDLCA must align their identities with the new Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023.

Ezisi  recommended that CRFFN should consider deregistering those four associations and request the withdrawal of their CAC Certificates in overall national interest.

The  NAGAFF President declared that notwithstanding the distractions, NAGAFF remains proud of the performance of the current Registrar, Mr Kingsley Igwe because of his credible performance in the training of 1,000 of freight forwarders in 2025.

“The training among other numerous capacity-building initiatives has seen a successful training of over 300 freight forwarders already. It is on record that the Registrar is driving digital modernisation and stakeholder collaboration to strengthen CRFFN’s regulatory role” Ezisi said

Reiterating NAGAFF’s position Chief Ezesi said  “We hereby pass a vote of absolute confidence on the leadership of CRFFN Registrar/CEO under the supervision of the Hon Minster of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON. NAGAFF will remain committed to the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and to a freight forwarding profession anchored in professionalism, transparency and national service,” Ezisi emphasized