How internal crisis may affect ANLCA’s chances at CRFFN elections

By Ayobami Adedinni

There are fresh indications that the crisis currently rocking the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, (ANLCA) may negatively impact on its chances at the forthcoming CRFFN election.

Recall that Nigeriamaritime360 last week reported that the Ministry of Transportation has scheduled elections into the governing board of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) for 8th October, 2021.

In a circular made public and signed by the Electoral Committee Chairman, A. D. Suleiman, five members would emerge from Western port, five members from Eastern port and five members from cargo airport/land border posts.

This arrangement was a departure from what obtained in the last election where associations produced candidates irrespective of their areas of operation.

Speaking with our correspondent, Joe Sanni, former public relations officer of the Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), described the election as a sham and a way for some people to enrich themselves.

In his words, “This is an “arrangee” election. They just want to arrange it and get themselves back into the governing council so that they will continue to chop government money.

” But I tell you there is a White Paper that has stopped government’s financing of CRFFN. So, they don’t even have any rights whatsoever.

“So, where are they getting money since they’re not collecting money from the association members and government?

“Some people are just using the opportunity to get their friends into the governing Council.

“And once they get there, they start to share money because the ministry is still giving them money.

“There is a court case challenging CRFFN on the issue of its existence and what they can do and what they can not do.

“So, by arranging an election, they’re only doing so against the law because ANLCA that’s supposed to be main members of CRFFN are not united so they can not present anything.

“Let them go ahead and take the whole slots. Even the last two years that the governing council has been there, what have they achieved? Nothing. They’re doing things illegally,” he said.

In a statement obtained by Nigeriamaritime360, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF said it regretted alloting seats to smaller sister associations in the dissolved third board , while the Association of Nigerian Customs Licensed Agents (ANLCA) may take the remaining five seats, if it wants to.

According to its founder, Boniface Aniebonam, the group said it has decided to take 10 of the 15 professional seats in the forthcoming governing board of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders (CRFFN).