SEREC Boss Urges Freight Forwarders To Rekindle Professional Resilience Amid Industry Reforms
SEREC Boss Urges Freight Forwarders To Rekindle Professional Resilience Amid Industry Reforms
Fwdr Dr Eugene Nweke Head Research SEREC
By Frank Odinukaeze
The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has issued a compelling call for freight forwarding practitioners across Nigeria to renew their commitment to professional excellence and adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of the global logistics and trade sector.
In a public message titled “A Call for a Renewed Professional Resilience and Recommitment to Freight Forwarding Practitioners,” Fwdr Eugene Nweke, a respected voice in the industry and Head of Research at SEREC, highlighted critical areas of concern and change that demand urgent professional attention.
Addressing colleagues across the freight forwarding spectrum, Nweke noted that the sector is grappling with mounting challenges stemming from global economic shifts, technological transformation, and evolving government policies. Despite these, he commended the ongoing efforts by practitioners, association leaders, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders for keeping Nigeria’s ports active and the economy in motion.
“It is essential to renew our professional steadfastness and commitment to delivering quality freight logistics services,” Nweke stated. “We must uphold high professional discipline and continuously upgrade our skills to remain relevant and resilient.”
He outlined several pressing industry issues:
Port Automation & Digitalization: Nweke emphasized the urgency of embracing the national single window system and the migration to the new customs B’odogwu trade platform powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. He called for intensified capacity-building efforts to align with the emerging digital trade environment.
Tax Reforms: With the formal establishment of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Nweke cautioned that freight forwarders and shippers must brace for greater scrutiny, urging strict compliance and awareness.
CRFFN Regulation: The call also underscored the need for a unified, all-inclusive, and depoliticized regulatory framework under the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), aimed at fostering professional legacy over individual ambition.
AfCFTA Implementation: He lamented the marginalization of freight forwarders in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) implementation process, despite their centrality in trade facilitation.
Professional Frustration: The statement cited the adverse impacts of foreign exchange volatility, particularly linked to the China-Nigeria currency swap, on the operations of practitioners and the general populace.
High Cost of Doing Business: He criticized the proliferation of taxes, charges, and duplicated levies, describing them as hindrances to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a transshipment hub. He pointed to forthcoming policies such as the reintroduction of the 4% customs operation fund and the pending Nigeria Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency law as developments to watch closely.
Local Content and Industry Threats: Nweke warned against the creeping dominance of foreign players and shipping lines in the freight forwarding space, urging for a revival of local content laws and unified industry action.
He concluded by rallying practitioners to adopt a collaborative approach through shared knowledge, industry training, and strategic engagement with regulatory bodies.
“The time to come together for professional sustainability is now,” Nweke affirmed. “We must rekindle our professional resilience and recommit to quality service delivery if we must remain relevant in the modern logistics ecosystem.”
The message, which has since gained traction among stakeholders, is seen as a timely wake-up call, as the Nigerian freight forwarding sector stands at the crossroads of innovation, reform, and renewed global trade expectations.
