ANLCA now stronger, better to confront operational challenges at ports - Olayiwola Shittu

Segun Oladipupo |

As the warring factions of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) have reconciled their differences, the association has promised to tackle the various challenges bedevilling operational activities of freight forwarders at the nation’s seaports.

The Immediate past President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu who gave the assurance on Wednesday, during his visit to the national Secretariat in Lagos, said that ANLCA was better and stronger to work as a team in resolving myriad of issues confronting members in port operations.

Shittu noted that gone are the days of in-fighting among members of the association , even as he affirmed to continuously play an advisory role to the current national executives in their quest to better the lots of their members.

He further pointed out that the Tony Nwabunike led executives of the association has exhibited tremendous leadership qualities since taking over as president .

“Let me assure you that jointly, both the former and present leaders of ANLCA will resolve the current crisis at the port because we are all victims and we are all operators at the ports.

“So leaving it to Tony Iju alone will not solve the problems but what he has done is that he took the courage to open the door for every member to come in.

“Let me say that the crisis does not even allow members at chapter level who are front runners to do their job.

“In fact this December will be the last time people will take advantage of us but by January, you will see what will happen”, declared Shittu.

He also promised to support and work closely with the executives to ensure that ANLCA takes its rightful position in the industry.

“We have operational problems at the port and every single licensed customs agent is not happy about what is going at the port”, he confirmed.

Former Vice President and a board of trustee member of ANLCA, Dayo Azeez noted that the practitioners are faced with numerous challenges bedevilling port operations, stressing the need for collective efforts by members to tackle the issue.

On his part , the National President of ANLCA, Tony Iju Nwabunike said the association would work collectively to tackle the numerous challenges confronting freight agents.

“Let’s forget the issues of ANLCA for now. We have so many issues that must be resolved and it is going to be a collective efforts by us all to get it right.

He assured that ANLCA is coming up with a game changing plans by January to boost port efficiency and the ease of doing business at the ports.

Some of the challenges highlighted in port operations include: the deplorable state of the roads, delay in cargo clearance and arbitrary charges by the service providers.