ANLCA, NAGAFF wind down operations at ports over COVID-19 - direct members to stay at home

Funso Olojo

As the dreaded Coronavirus is rampaging the world in a deadly ferocity, freight Forwarders operating at the nation’s ports and border posts have been asked to stay away from work.

In an emotion-laden notice sent to all members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tony Nwabunike, the National President of the association, has directed that the National Secretariat of the group be shut from 12 noon, Tuesday, March 24th, 2020, while appealing to members to stay at home with their families.

“Your National President and entire NECOM members do care about you and your entire family members. All our professional colleagues are very important and dear to us. Let’s show love to ourselves by staying safe and coming out victorious.

“Consequently, the National Secretariat will by 12 noon today the 24/03/2020 be shut down till further notice.

“Pls, stay at home with your families. Avoid gatherings of any sort.

“It is my prayers that the Almighty Father will spare us and the lives of our family members

“Wishing everyone the best possible luck”, Nwabunike said.

Similarly, the Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight forwarders (NAGAFF), Boniface Aniebonam, has asked all the members of the association at the ports and border posts to stay off duties from Wednesday, March 25th, 2020, in deference to the Federal government directive aimed at curbing the spread of the deadly virus.

Consequently, the NAGAFF leader has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of the association for Wednesday where the decision to stay at home is expected to be ratified.

“The policy direction of the FGN on matters of social distancing is imperative at the moment if we must survive the scourge of Coronavirus ravaging the entire globe.

“FREIGHT FORWARDERS and other NIGERIANS have to be alive to attend to social and spiritual responsibilities” Aniebonam declared.

Already, some government agencies in the maritime industry such as Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have all asked their staff on non-essential services to stay away and work from home as the efforts to arrest the spread of the virus are being intensified.