CRFFN Urges Air Cargo Stakeholders to Tackle Regulatory Bottlenecks, Clearance Delays

The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria has called on stakeholders in the air transport sector to confront the persistent challenges hampering air cargo operations, including multiple regulatory interfaces, cargo clearance delays, inadequate infrastructure and high logistics costs.

Dr. Kingsley Igwe, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of CRFFN, said addressing these bottlenecks was essential to unlocking the significant economic opportunities presented by air cargo. He noted that the growth of e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, agricultural exports, high-value manufactured goods and other time-sensitive commodities offers Nigeria a chance to strengthen its position within regional and global supply chains.

Speaking at a stakeholder event, Igwe said realising that potential requires more than infrastructure investment. “It requires an efficient and interconnected ecosystem in which airlines, airports, customs, regulators, freight forwarders, terminal and ground-handling operators, technology providers and other stakeholders work together towards common objectives,” he stated.

As the council responsible for regulating and developing the freight forwarding profession in Nigeria, Igwe affirmed CRFFN’s commitment to promoting professionalism, competence, ethical standards, continuous capacity development and the effective deployment of technology within the profession. He stressed that the modern freight forwarder must be more than an intermediary. “The freight forwarder of the future must be a technology-enabled logistics professional, a trusted supply-chain partner and a facilitator of seamless international trade,” he said.

On digital transformation, Igwe described it as central to the industry’s collective agenda. “We must continue to reduce manual processes, eliminate unnecessary delays, improve information sharing and enhance end-to-end visibility of cargo,” he said. He pointed to initiatives such as the National Single Window and the recently approved CRFFN Logroom4.1 initiative for freight services pricing mechanisms as significant opportunities to improve transparency, efficiency and ease of doing business, provided they are effectively implemented, integrated and supported by all stakeholders.

Igwe also acknowledged the persistent challenges of multiple regulatory interfaces, cargo clearance delays, inadequate infrastructure, high logistics costs and gaps in stakeholder coordination. “These challenges cannot be addressed in isolation,” he warned. “They require a whole-of-industry approach anchored on collaboration, accountability and shared responsibility.”

He further emphasised the need to connect air cargo development to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda. “We must ask ourselves how we can leverage air cargo to support Nigerian farmers, manufacturers, exporters, SMEs and other businesses seeking access to international markets,” he said. An efficient air cargo system, he noted, can help Nigerian products reach markets faster, reduce wastage of perishable goods and enhance the competitiveness of exporters.

Igwe reiterated CRFFN’s commitment to deepening collaboration with CHINET and all relevant stakeholders to build a freight forwarding environment that is professional, efficient, transparent, technology-driven and globally competitive.