I am saddened by ANLCA crisis – Tin Can Customs boss.

The Area Controller of Tin-Can Customs Command, Mohammed Musa, has expressed deep concern over the current crisis rocking the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

Comptroller Musa said he was disturbed that an association  which was registered in 1954 and obviously older than Nigeria and blessed with elders and leaders of note could allow their differences degenerate to a level where they have to resort to multiple litigation.

The Customs chief raised this concern yesterday when the chapter executives of the ANLCA in Zone A, led by Sir John Oforbike, the Zonal Coordinator, met with the Area Controller.

The ANLCA Zonal council had come to intimate the  Tin Can Customs helmsman with the challenges their members are faced with in the course of their business.

While briefing Compt.Musa and his team of their operational challenges and seeking the intervention of the Customs helmsman, Oforbike has disclosed that the association has been embroiled in a long-draw crisis which has culminated to about seven court cases.

‘For over 15 months  now, ANLCA has been in crisis to the detriment of our electors/members , with about seven cases in different courts today.

“Although, efforts  are afoot to resolve  the crisis,  the Western Zone has to stand up for its members who are suffering seriously” Oforbike told his host.

Comptroller Musa was alarmed at the level of the crisis in ANLCA, especially the multiple court cases which he advised should be withdrawn and amicable resolution sought  for peace to reign.

“I am disturbed because ANLCA, an organisation registered in 1954 , meaning an organisation older than  Nigeria,is having crisis and it is generating into going to court. I think it’s quite unfortunate.

“We have elders, we have leaders who should have intervened and resolve the issues before it degenerated to the present  level.”he declared.

He admonished the elders and leaders in the association not to allow the crisis to fester to a point that it would be handed over to the young generation of customs brokers who shall soon take over from them.

“The most successful parents or leaders are those who transit successfully to younger ones;

“If as parents or leaders, we transit crisis to our younger ones, are we successful leaders?, Comptroller Musa asked rhetorically, in a concerned voice.

He declared that it is natural to have issues but it is better to resolve them amicably.

Comptroller Musa observed  that it is absurd for  ANLCA to have seven court cases in an industry where Customs brokers are important stakeholders whose contributions to the revenue performances of the Customs is so crucial that could not be wished away.

The Western Zone of  ANLCA had tabled some of the challenges facing its members which include the late resumption of Customs officers  to their duty posts, short positioning of homogeneous containers by terminal operators as a result of lack of adequate equipment and unnecessary delay of jobs by some unscrupulous customs officers.