Border Closure: ANLCA urges importers to divert cargoes to seaports

By Dapo Olawuni |

The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said its members have started directing their importers to divert their cargoes through the Nigerian seaports in Lagos, Port Harcourt among others

Speaking with our correspondent, National President of ANLCA, Mr Tony Iju Nwabunike said it was apparent that the joint border closure exercise codenamed ‘Operation Ex-swift Response’ goes beyond facilitation of trade.

According to him, the joint border exercise couldn’t have also been about smuggling alone, he argued that smugglers do not make use of the approved border posts, but that they make use of the unapproved routes.

Nwabunike said “It is something that goes beyond facilitation of trade, but we are looking forward to hearing from the Federal Government of Nigeria for the next line of action because we cannot continue like this”

“We cannot be talking about the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Agreement) signed by our President barely two months ago geared towards ensuring smooth trade relationship, this closure is not in line with the treaty, but all the same, no country wants to take security issues lightly, the government must have known the reason why it decided to shut the borders”

“We have asked our members and our customers to exercise patience, most of them have been asked to be using Apapa Port, Tin Can Island, Port Harcourt and so on”

“Smugglers have not been using that route, so smuggling shouldn’t have been a major issue, if it is, then government would have to reopen the borders because smugglers make use of unapproved routes, but I think it is more than that”

On the alleged multiplicity of customs units at the port, the ANLCA President assured that the association was working with Customs to make sure it is all streamlined.

He said “We have written customs on this issue of FOU and they are taking it up, the CG of Customs is a listening CG, if you give him a superior argument, he would listen to you on the way forward, don’t forget that he is a very seasoned intelligence officer”