The Council for the Regulation of
Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), on Monday, launched the Practitioners Operation
Fee (POF) in Lagos.
Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), on Monday, launched the Practitioners Operation
Fee (POF) in Lagos.
The Registrar of the Council, Mr. Samuel Nwakohu, during the soft launch of the POF, explained the steps to take
to make payments on the portal.
to make payments on the portal.
According to him, the soft launch
means that there will be no full importation into the portal until two to three
weeks.
means that there will be no full importation into the portal until two to three
weeks.
The POF is a legal practicing fee meant to be paid by freight forwarders and
customs brokers.
customs brokers.
The POF will see a 20ft container
attracting a fee of N1,000 while a 40ft container will attract N2,000 before it
can be cleared from the port.
attracting a fee of N1,000 while a 40ft container will attract N2,000 before it
can be cleared from the port.
“We have worked very hard to make
sure the objectives of the POF are effective and achieved.
sure the objectives of the POF are effective and achieved.
“This soft launch is restricted
to the seaport for now; it is a phased thing and we will get to the airport
eventually.
to the seaport for now; it is a phased thing and we will get to the airport
eventually.
“This is also a period to observe
the technology; it has been in observation but we should know that there is a
difference between the field and things done in the office,” he said.
the technology; it has been in observation but we should know that there is a
difference between the field and things done in the office,” he said.
Nwakohu said that there would be
a 16-man response team that would attend to people in case of any issue with
the portal.
a 16-man response team that would attend to people in case of any issue with
the portal.
He said that each account on the
portal would have an e-wallet where one could keep funds aside, and in case of
any issue, it could be reverted within 48 hours.
portal would have an e-wallet where one could keep funds aside, and in case of
any issue, it could be reverted within 48 hours.
The registrar noted that for
security reasons during payment, a One-Time Password (OTP) would be generated
from the bank, and when that was done, it would enable one to be debited.
security reasons during payment, a One-Time Password (OTP) would be generated
from the bank, and when that was done, it would enable one to be debited.
The registrar said that the name
of the freight forwarder, consignment and description of goods would be on the
printout given, and an acknowledgement copy sent to the person’s email.
of the freight forwarder, consignment and description of goods would be on the
printout given, and an acknowledgement copy sent to the person’s email.
He said that terminal operators
would be provided with an Excel sheet which would be ticked off before one was
allowed to carry the cargo out of the port.
would be provided with an Excel sheet which would be ticked off before one was
allowed to carry the cargo out of the port.
“Terminal operators have nothing
to do with the process on the portal; the only role they play is to verify the
receipt against the control document to ensure one has paid before leaving the
port.
to do with the process on the portal; the only role they play is to verify the
receipt against the control document to ensure one has paid before leaving the
port.
“What one needs is to be able to
access the portal using their registration number and follow the steps, and the
portal accepts all cards for payment.
access the portal using their registration number and follow the steps, and the
portal accepts all cards for payment.
“Very soon, the portal will be
accessed through the Google play store for download,” he said.
accessed through the Google play store for download,” he said.
The CRFFN registrar said that
there was an environment in the portal that showed the level of activities
going on in the port so as to monitor progress.
there was an environment in the portal that showed the level of activities
going on in the port so as to monitor progress.
Agency Report.
