NAGAFF Founder Alleges Financial Irregularities in CRFFN, Calls for Probe of Past Administration
*Urges agencies to deliver on core mandate for industry devt
By Francis Ugwoke
The Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has alleged a lot of irregularities in the finances of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and called for a probe of the past leadership of the Council.
Anibonam in an exclusive interview with SHIPPING DAY called on the new Chairman of the Board of the Council, Alhaji Tsanni Abubakar and members to look into the accounts of the past administrations of CRFFN, saying that this was because a lot of money has gone down the drain.
The NAGAFF founder said this was why the Council is currently finding it difficult to function.
He alleged that misappropriation in CRFFN was the reason why the Council is currently handicapped as the new Board has no funds to function.
He told SHIPPING DAY, “I think the current chairman must look at the accounts of the past administrations of CRFFN because a lot money has gone down the drain. We are watching to see what will happen. A lot of money through the personal account of CRFFN has been misappropriated, serious money and that is why they are handicapped, they don’t have money to take off”.
Describing CRFFN as one of the most critical agencies of government, he said the Council can be involved in getting freight forwarders to be compliant in trade regulation.
He added that the Council is not working because it has been distorted by human element, adding that the Council has been hijacked by those who never knew the objectives of its establishment.
Aniebonam however said that the current chairman of the Council was “ the best thing that will happen to CRFFN whether anybody likes it or not”.
“ I believe he will do well. We want to excuse him, he is not feeling very well. He has his own problem, for instance fund”.
On expectations of the maritime industry stakeholders from President Muhammadu Buhari’s next level administration, Aniebonam said agencies should be focused on their core statutory obligation.
He said, “the power under section 5 of constitution has been delegated. Is Buhari going to be police IG, is he going to be CG of Custom? He has given you power, go and represent and let us build a greater nation. Why can’t we do it ? Look at what happened in Transport Ministry, CRFFN is the most critical agency of the government as it is now that can be so much involved in the issue of compliance professionally and it is not working, why is it not working? It is totally distorted by human element”.
About Post Author
