ANLCA Makes U-Turn, Teams Up With NAGAFF To Okay Cargo Tracking Note Implementation

After weeks of sitting on the fence, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) yesterday openly declared its support for the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN).
In a joint press release with its sister association; the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, the ANCLA stated pointedly that, ‘’whoever is against ICTN has an ulterior motive and should be treated as enemy of trade facilitation, safety and security of the nation’’.
In the press release which was made available to Shipping Position Daily and was jointly signed by presidents of the two associations, namely: Prince Olayiwola Shittu (ANLCA) and Dr Eugene Nweke(NAGAFF) respectively, they  concurred that ‘’the benefits of ICTN far outweigh its administrative costs.’’
They consequently called on all ‘’well-meaning freight forwarders to support the Nigerian Shippers Council in this noble to add value to our international trade supply chain’’.
The two associations adduced 35 reasons to justify their support for ICTN, and also expressed confidence in the capacity of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to administer the scheme successfully.
They acknowledged that ICTN ‘’will act as a revenue booster to NCS, NIMASA, NPA, reduce the high incidences of manual process in the supply value chain’’ 
According to both NAGAFF and ANLCA, ‘’with cargo status indicator, it will boost the operations of SON, NAFDAC, etc in line  with providing adequate real time information of cargo owner, nature of cargo and address for the interventions by SON, NAFDAC, etc thereby, facilitating the reduction in the influx of substandard and counterfeit products into the country’’.
They noted that other benefits of ICTN, are that ‘’With its anti–theft device ability, it improves the confidence of the shipper, Terminal operators and carriers, as cargo/fleets management is enhanced, it will eliminate to the barest minimum the incidence of cargo dumping and diversion 
They also agreed that ‘’overtime, it will generate enough revenue that will be ploughed back for the development of the port security system and infrastructure’’. 
Eulogising the ICTN, both associations stressed that: ‘’In the case of perils at sea, ICTN records/information database will be apt in insurance salvage and general average reconciliations between the shipper, carrier and underwriter’’.