NIMASA and Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Collaborates with GMA

The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) on the 23rd December, 2013 accredited GMA as a training Institute to train new entrants and the professionals in Freight Forwarding.

Who are CRFFN?

CRFFN means Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria. They are the Federal Government Agency responsible for regulating and controlling the practice of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, in accordance with FIATA and other International bodies, that advocates the practice of Freight Forwarding in accordance with International Standard.

Birth of CRFFN

The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Act No. 16 of 2007 was enacted into law on 30th of April, 2007, the council was formally inaugurated on 18th of August, 2008 and became operational since then.

CRFFN Mandates

The Council is charged with, amongst other responsibilities, regulating and controlling the practice of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, and promoting the highest standards of competence, practice and conduct among members of the profession.

CRFFN is also charged with the responsibility of determining the standards of knowledge and skill to be attained by persons seeking to be registered as Freight Forwarders in Nigeria and raising those standards from time to time in accordance with international standards.

The council is dedicated to achieving sustainable economic development in Nigeria through responsible transport initiatives in freight forwarding development and management.

CRFFN Vision/Aims or Objectives of CRFFN

The vision of the council is to become Nigeria’s leading transport player committed to the development of a modern globally competitive freight forwarding system in Nigeria. To achieve this vision the council has the following aims or objectives:

  1. Regulating and Controlling the Practice of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
  2. Regulating and Controlling all the Associations of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria.
  3. Regulating and Controlling Persons who are Engaged in Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
  4. Promoting the Highest Standard of Competence, Best Practices and Conduct among Individual Members and Organizations Engaged in the Freight Forwarding Profession in Nigeria.
  5. Securing in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Establishment and Maintenance of Registers of Persons and Organizations entitled to Practice as Registered Freight Forwarders, and the Publication from time to time of the List of such Persons and Organizations in Nigeria.
  6. Encouraging Participation of Members in International Exchange Programmes.
  7. Determining the Standards of Knowledge and Skill to be Attained by Persons Seeking to be Registered as Freight Forwarders in Nigeria and Raising those Standards from time to time in Accordance with International Industry Practice.
  8. Encouraging Freight Forwarders to strive for high levels of career achievement and to gain a broader understanding of the principles of cargo movement in the interest of the public, clients and employees.
  9. Ensuring Uniform Standards of Education, Training and Professional Conduct of Practitioners.
  10. Performing any other functions conferred on the Council by the Act.
  11. Maintain cargo movement statistics, which shall be made available to registered members and the public.
  12. Establish a Comprehensive Syllabus and Curriculum for the Training of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria.
  13. Embark on Continuous Certification of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria.
  14. Embark on Continuous Conduct of Seminars and Workshops on Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
  15. Affiliate with Universities, Colleges or Academies and FIATA.
  16. Create Membership Development Toolkit (Continuous Professional Development – CPD).
  17. Create Efficiencies and Coordinate the Activities of Practitioners in a way that cleans up the operations, it’s members and enables it to serve the public better in an efficient and transparent manner.
  18. Fast track the movement of international goods from origin to point of destination.
  19. Bring to fruition the much expected 48 hours cargo clearance, required to reduce the cost of goods and demurrage that importers pay to the terminal operators at the ports, which adds to high price of goods and services in the market.
  20. Vouchsafe the revenue form freight forwarding services accruing to the federal government, which, without exaggeration, accounts for over 50% of Federal Government Revenue source. Thus Freight Forwarding in Nigeria will soon take its rightful place in international movement of goods, and improve public perception and awareness of the duties and responsibilities of freight forwarders.
  21. Encourage Freight Forwarders to strive for high levels of career achievement and to gain a broader understanding of the principles of cargo movement in the interest of the public, clients and employees.
  22. Ensure maintenance of cargo movement statistics, which shall be made available to registered members, government, the public and stakeholders for the purpose of cargo forecast.
  23. Engage with the Council Membership of FIATA (International Freight Trade Association), in Geneva, Switzerland, for the purposes of International exchange program and capacity building.
  24. Develop policies and procedures to ensure the council is able to proactively manage public information and respond to press inquiries and customer satisfaction.

Why is CRFFN Collaborating with GMA

The ongoing transformations by the Federal Government of Nigeria aimed at increasing efficiencies, improving transparencies and adding value to the economy of the nation, has been extended to the Freight Forwarding sub sector. Thus Council for Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), in support of the Federal Government’s transformations, in this sector, has decided to enforce the provisions of the Act establishing it.

Two of CRFFN Core Mandates are:

  1. To determine the standards of knowledge and skill to be attained by persons seeking to be registered as Freight Forwarders (in Nigeria) and raising those standards from time to time in accordance with international standards.
  2. To ensure that professionalism through education and training of the people of the industry (Freight Forwarding sub sector) is being actualized.

To achieve these mandates among others, CRFFN applied for and obtained both National and International Accreditation to run HND and PD Programmes, in Nigeria, for Freight Forwarders.

CRFFN Gets International Accreditation for HND and PD Programme

The world body of Freight Forwarders, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), has accredited the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), to train and issue certificate in:

  1. Higher Diploma (HND) in Supply Chain Management and
  2. Professional Diploma (PD) in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management

This accreditation has been backed up by the Board for Technical Education (NBTE) giving approval to CRFFN to conduct FIATA Diploma Programmes in Nigeria.

These achievements have marked a new dawn in the Freight Forwarding Sector in the country and has empowered CRFFN to carry out one of the core mandates of ensuring that professionalism through education and training of the people of the industry is being actualized.

The Accreditation

It is in the area of educating and training professional and new entrants in the Freight Forwarding Industry, and in accordance with its objective 15 above, being (Affiliate with Universities, Colleges or Academies and FIATA), that has made CRFFN to accredit GMA as a training Academy for its programmes. The letter to this effect is as seen below.

Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) of the Registered Freight Forwarder (RFF)

The Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) of the Registered Freight Forwarder (RFF) as required by CRFFN is as stated below:

That I, as a Registered Freight Forwarder, shall:

  1. Uphold the integrity and professionalism of the Freight Forwarding Profession in Nigeria.
  2. Be free from fraudulent and corrupt practices in the discharge of my duties professionally, be it in my thoughts, words and actions.
  3. Strive to serve the interest of my employer or principal, loyally without compromising professional ethics or integrity.
  4. Put service above self and be conscious of time and cost in cargo handling towards the economic development of my country.
  5. Strive to attain high professional standards in knowledge and skill in accordance with industry best practices, distinctive individual disciplines and corporate governance standards, and
  6. Promote understanding, goodwill and cooperation among my professional colleagues through active fulfilment of my membership obligations to the best of my abilities.

The above Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) of the Registered Freight Forwarder (RFF) can only be attained if the practitioners in the industry both new and old are educated and trained in the practice of Freight Forwarding accordance with International Best Standard by FIATA and CRFFN in Nigeria.

Admission

It is a result of the above that the Management of GMA is inviting application from suitable qualified candidates for admission in the following International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association (FIATA) programmes.

  1. International Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management.
  2. International Higher Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management.
  3. Certificate in Freight Forwarding.

Entry Qualification

  1. For the Certificate Programme: Ability to read and write is the minimum qualification.
  2. For the International Diploma Programme: Certificate in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management, or related field; Secondary School Certificate (SSC), with at least four credits including English at not more than two sittings and Diploma from non-Transport/Logistics/Supply Chain Management from approved Institution.
  3. For the International Higher Diploma Programme: CRFFN Executive Professional Diploma, FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management and related Certificates and a Degree from an approved Institution.

Method of Application

Qualified candidates for admission are required to pay the sum of Five Thousand Naira (5,000.00), in any branch of Ecobank PLC, in favour of Global Maritime Academy, Acct. No. 3402068189. Thereafter send an email to [email protected], indicating your Full Name and the Teller Number.

Duration of Programmes

One academic year of 2 semesters (9 months)

Please not that all programmes have international recognition.

Practising Freight Forwarders should take this opportunity to upgrade their knowledge, to meet with the international standard, to enable them practice their profession in accordance with international best practice.

Programme Flyer

This programme flyer is been distributed in places like the Banks, Eateries, Club Houses, ect, so that the advertisement, can reach those who are not able to get to our website.