Our goal is to improve our IGR in 2025—CRFFN Registrar

 

Maureen Aguta

 

As the boat of 2025 sails ashore on Wednesday, December 1, 2025, the Registrar/CEO of the Council for the Regulation of Freight forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Comrade Kingsley Igwe has disclosed that the determination of the Management of Council this year is to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the Council.

Comrade Igwe who gave this indication in his New Year message to stakeholders, practitioners and staff of the CRFFN on the New Year, further thanked the Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola for his “compassionate intervention and approval of a fresh bailout fund for payment of the reaming salary arrears of the staff from August to December 2024.

The Registrar said, “As we embark on a journey defined by renewed determination and a clear vision this year, our roadmap centres around a singular yet impactful agenda: Boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of CRFFN under four strategic pillars: Strengthening professional standards through innovation and solution driven policies, Enhancing capacity building and regulatory efficiency,  Driving collaboration with sister agencies, and Improving welfare and working conditions of staff nationwide.”

These four strategic pillars according to him will drive sustainable growth and development for CRFFN and the Nigerian freight logistics industry, thus: strengthening professional standards through solution driven policies.

“Our first step is to establish and enforce robust policies that will elevate professional standards within the freight logistics industry. By fostering a culture of compliance and excellence, we aim to position CRFFN as a leading regulatory authority,” he said, adding that these policies will promote integrity, transparency, and efficiency, creating a thriving ecosystem for all stakeholders; enhancing capacity building and regulatory efficiency.

He also disclosed that professional training will be at the forefront of our agenda this year. “We will: Roll out comprehensive training programmes for CRFFN staff to enhance their regulatory capabilities; Organise workshops, certifications, and seminars tailored to the needs of freight forwarders, ensuring they are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge to navigate an evolving global logistics landscape.

This investment in human capital is pivotal to achieving our long-term goals in line with the renewed hope agenda of Mr President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and in line with the roadmap of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola (CON).”

He empathised with the entire workforce of CRFFN who, until recently, endured the hardship of prolonged non-payment of salaries which the timely and compassionate intervention of the Minister made it possible for them to get a bailout fund for payment of the initial five months’ salary arrears from March to July 2024.

Comrade Igwe further said: “As we speak, the Honourable Minister has approved another bailout fund for payment of another 5 months’ salary arrears from August to December 2024, and the entire team is working hard behind the scene to perfect all arrangement for disbursement as soon as possible. With this, you can be rest assured that the welfare of our workforce under my administration is paramount to the Honourable Minister.”

“Going forward, salaries will be paid promptly, and I expect, in return, a renewed dedication to duty and productivity from all staff,” he said.

The Registrar assured that in 2025, there is enhancement of workplace conditions across all CRFFN offices nationwide; there will implementation of initiatives that prioritise the professional growth of  staff. He added that “by fostering a supportive and motivating environment, we will empower our workforce to perform at their best.”

Challenges and opportunities ahead

According to Comrade Igwe, the freight logistics industry in Nigeria faces a complex array of challenges which can be summarised into poor representation, share identity denial and lack of genuine acceptance at all levels, yet it also presents remarkable opportunities.

He asserted that Nigeria’s strategic position within Africa, its critical ports, and the brighter prospects of the blue economy provide an exceptional platform to advance the industry and amplify its contribution to the national economy.

However, there is a significant gap in the capacity building for freight forwarders in core professional areas of practice.

This gap, he said reflects a lack of investment in training, knowledge development, and skill enhancement that could enable these professionals to adapt to evolving industry demands, regulatory changes, and technological advancements. This is as he disclosed that the industry has not fully leveraged opportunities for continuous professional development, standardized practices, and innovative solutions that could enhance efficiency, compliance, and competitiveness.

Addressing this challenge requires a concerted effort to prioritise education, mentorship, and resource allocation to unlock the full potential of freight forwarders and their critical role in national logistics service administration, he said.

“The aforementioned would not be achieved if there is still division amongst us. We all know how the freight logistics sector has suffered so much in the Nigeria and CRFFN being the statutory unifying body has suffered the most since inception. By now, CRFFN should have grown like her sister agencies as NPA, NIMASA and Nigeria Shippers Council. Now that we, the practitioners have taken over, the opportunity has come. The peace of doing business and the benefits of our hard works is now in our hands. We must all be united at all fronts to achieve the desired results as the world is watching us,” Comrade Igwe said.