Group Accuses Foreigners of Taking Over Freight Forwarding

About 10,000 Nigerians may lose their jobs in the freight forwarding sector if nothing is done to stop foreigners from taking over the entire business.

The President of Shippers’ Association, Lagos State, Rev. Jonathan Nicol, who made the allegation, called on the Federal Government to immediately investigate this.

He stated this in a statement and lamented that foreigners had taken over almost all the processes of cargo clearance at the ports, leaving Nigerians freight forwarders idle.

He said, “If nothing is done urgently to correct the trend, not less than 10,000 Nigerians will lose their jobs.

“As it is, the essence of government setting up the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria has not been achieved because the role of the CRFFN, among other things, is to protect indigenous freight forwarders.”

Nicol accused foreign freight forwarders of preparing all the Form M and placing orders with suppliers of the firm, shipping cargo into the country, clearing it and delivering it to the consignees.

He said, “Indigenous freight forwarders are losing their jobs to foreigners. Reports reaching us are that some private foreign companies are bent on taking over all the blue chips companies and manufacturing industries in Nigeria through outsourcing.

“The implication is that the existence of the CRFFN will be threatened. I believe that freight forwarding in Nigeria should be an exclusive business to Nigerians as it is done in The Republic of Benin.

“If nothing is done urgently, thousands of Nigerians will lose their jobs. The Federal Government should protect our people from foreign concerns complicating the economic situation in Nigeria.”

But the President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr. Eugene Nweke, faulted Nicol’s claim.