ANLCA President Disowns Farinto over Criticism of Shippers’ Council’s Registration Policy

Abiola Seun

The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tony Nwabunike has disowned the association’s National vice president, Kayode Farinto over his criticism of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) registration policy.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, the President of ANLCA said he will review the decision taken by Farinto against the policy.

According to him, the council has the power to register and impose charges for the registration on stakeholders in the industry.

Recall that the National Vice President of ANLCA, Kayode Farinto have vowed to challenge the registration fee recently introduced by the Council for port service providers, describing it as an illegal collection.

He said while the NSC can register stakeholders to have their database, it does not have the powers to impose registration fee.

But, speaking to newsmen in Lagos, the National President said the association would support the registration policy of the council.

According to him, the association would have a change of mind as the Shippers’ Council has the power to register stakeholders in the sector.

He said, “My vice President when I was away mentioned that we won’t support it but I will review it because if you go by the gazette that concerns the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, they have the right to do that but we will review that. There may be a change of mind,” he stated.

Also, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) also throws its weight behind the registration policy saying it is a move geared towards boosting port efficiency.

NAGAFF President, Increase Uche, said that the NSC registration is similar to others carried out by government agencies in the port including the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Customs and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to profile their stakeholders, adding that there is nothing unusual with the fee attached to the registration.

He said, “The Shippers’ Council registration is not new in the industry because when you look at the entire agencies of government from NIMASA to NPA and Customs, virtually all the regulatory agencies profile the players that interface with them. So since they made Shippers Council interim regulator of the port, I think it is also good that they embark on similar exercise of registering stakeholders.

“Personally, I belong to several professional bodies and we pay annual dues every year. So for you to belong to such a group or anybody that regulates you, you have the obligation of identifying and keeping up to date with the requirement for them to carry out their regulatory role,” he said.

Uche, who commended the NSC for slashing the registration fee by 50%, said those kicking against the registration do not have an understanding of the law setting up the council and its role in ensuring that the interests of shippers are always protected.

“The 50% reduction by the NSC is magnanimous of them. If at all people raise issue that the scale of charges they made initially was on the high side and the management of the council listened to it and slashed it down, it is very welcome.

“I remember the NSC saying that the regulations that established them gave them the power to carry out such exercise to register all the players in the industry. Even we the freight forwarders, the same way we register with our professional body, NPA, Customs and so many other agencies of the government, also need to register with the council to benefit from their services. So I don’t see any reason that will give people the course to start challenging it.”