Reps move to correct inadequacies in freight forwarding

It will no longer be business as usual for the freight forwarders as the bill for an Act to Amend the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria Act, Cap 54 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 passed second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The bill was sponsored by Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad, member representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency and Hon. Patrick Asadu, member representing Nsukka/Igboeze Federal Constituency is seeking to correct the inadequacies in the law for establishing the Council for the regulation of Freight Forwarding of Nigeria.
According to Hon. Datti, the law for establishing the council became operational in 2009. We have realized that there are inadequacies in the bill and areas that need to be amended.
In in an interview with our Correspondent, Hon. Datti recalled that the business used to be an ‘all comers’ kind of business where anybody could just come from anywhere and claim to be a freight forwarder without any qualification.
The Lawmaker also stated that if the bill is amended, the council will became a revenue generating one as it has the capability to generate two hundred and fifty two billion naira (N252b) annually through Practitioner Operation Fee.
“The bill also seeks to resolve conflicts between freight forwarder and other government agencies in order to address operational and jurisdiction inadequacies.
“There is also the need to amend the portion on the tenure of the governing council members in line with industrial best practices as it is obtainable in other agencies.
“The bill further seeks to standardize educational qualification of who should be a freight forwarder as there is provision for training both within the country and outside the country on the freight forwarding business”, Hon. Datti stated.
He further mentioned that the business does not just stop at the Sea port, it includes the land border and and airport which makes it necessary for regulation in order to clearly define the office of who should register a freight forwarder.
Hon. Datti also said that the bill will go through all the legislative process for inputs from stakeholders before it is sent to the president.