The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has saidy that it has never had a cordial relationship with the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) the forebearers of the National Task Force on Small Arms and Ammunition in the Eastern part of the country ,saying that there has been no cooperation by the taskforce with its members in that part of the country .
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has saidy that it has never had a cordial relationship with the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) the forebearers of the National Task Force on Small Arms and Ammunition in the Eastern part of the country ,saying that there has been no cooperation by the taskforce with its members in that part of the country .
The association also said that for the group to thrive, there is the need to define its scope of operation in order to avoid conflicts with freight forwarders operating in the Lagos ports, because members in the eastern port had issues in the past with the group which almost led to blood bath.
The Association's president, Prince Olayiwola Shittu made this known in Lagos yesterday when top members of the taskforce paid the association a courtesy visit.
Shittu said that for the group to work with the ANLCA to achieve success there is the need to define the scope of operation in order to maintain peace in port operations.
The association’s president noted that for it to get a better picture on what the task force represents, there should be a platform where the association members can be enlightened on their operations.
He warned members of the taskforce not stop cargoes on transit, adding that the association will not condone such act from the IMAN sister organisation.
The president also added that the association is not a one-man business but licensed by the government and it is an organisation that is germane in the maritime industry.
"Your activities started in the east and you have been in touch with our members and we also have the history of what had transpired between our people and you", he recalled.
"Experience has shown that your people do not have the cooperation of our members in the East for obvious reason and the obvious reason is that if you are doing an exercise with the name of the government, then money making does not supersede why you are there and when you are enforcing people to part with money there must be resistance so that experience was not good enough in the east".
Reacting to Shittu's remark ,the Director ,National Taskforce on Small Arms ,Ammunition and Light Weapons; Colonel Friday Imoko (rtd) said the two organisations will hold a meeting at the apex level to discuss issues bothering on the economy and security.
Imoko stated that the group would not be able to expose its operations and that with the discussion; the association will understand what the taskforce is set to address.
The taskforce boss noted that the group’s operations are not about mounting road check on containers, but added that information gathered from the ANLCA will aid the taskforce in achieving its purpose.
According to him, without information the group will not be able to perform, but he added that familiarizing with ANLCA will help to achieve its set objectives.
He assured the association's president that there will be another round of meeting with the members ANLCA for the purpose of enlightenment on its operational scope.
The taskforce boss added that importers cannot operate without the services of the agents noting that both organisations have a role to play in achieving set objectives.
According to him, the group has the backing of the Nigerian Police Force and other agencies of the government.
Imoko also described the association as powerful organ in the Nigerian economy that the taskforce should work with as partner in progress.
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