The much-publicised strike being championed by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) appeared not to get the buy-in of other freight forwarding associations. At least three bodies have distanced themselves from the action.
The ANLCA had last weekend alleged serial corruption and sharp practices at the nation’s seaports and given 21 days ultimatum to the Federal Government.
In a statement issued last Friday by its national publicity secretary; Kayode Farinto, the ANLCA said “its members would be compelled to withdraw their services, which will shut down the ports, if these pressing issues are not addressed forthwith”.
But, three associations or individuals from the associations have openly distanced themselves from the ANLCA-induced planned strike.
One of the trio, the International Freight Forwarders Association (IFFA), in a statement signed by its President; Dr Sam Onyemelukwe advised its members to disregard the planned action.
“We use this medium to dissociate IFFA from this planned action or position and to inform our members who are frontline freight forwarders and have their core operations at the ports to continue going about their professional jobs diligently with patriotism and commitment.
In any case, IFFA shares similar professional ideologies and common concern with any other associations or groups in the freight forwarding department of maritime and shipping sector, but we shall not welcome any attempt to frustrate the present efforts of the Federal Government to diversify Nigeria’s monolithic and already distressed economy by improving activities in sectors like maritime and shipping”, he said.
According to the IFFA, rather than resort to strike, espousing “well laid out practical plans to reduce high cost of cargo clearance, corruption and other bottlenecks to enhance operations in maritime and shipping will lead to facilitation of trade for increased revenue to the Federal Government of Nigeria”.
“The attempt to shut down the ports at this critical economic situation in Nigeria can only be equated with economic sabotage by militants in the Niger Delta; it will compound the socio-political and economic pressures of the Federal Government caused by insurgency, militancy, as well as other crimes and IFFA will not be part of it”, the statement added, even as it agreed that factors such as corruption, bad access roads into the ports as well as multiplicity of government agencies are all contributors to the present state of things at the ports.
It however added that: “We are concerned that the ports in Nigeria are too expensive, which has made them less attractive and competitive”, it stressed but disagreed that shutting down the ports would solve the problem.
Also speaking with our correspondent on the planned strike, a senior member of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders ((NAGAFF), Mr Amaobi Echeogu denied knowledge of any plan to shut the ports.
The Custom Agent Relation Officer of NAGAFF at the PTML, said: I don’t know what they meant by saying that they are being extorted at the ports. I don’t think that such thing is moving on here because if it has been happening, all the associations will come together to decide on the way forward. As it stands now it is only ANLCA that is in it. NAGAFF, Managing Director and Association of Registered Freight Forwarders (AREFF) are not aware of it, because these are the association in the port”.
Buttressing the likelihood of ANLCA being alone in the push for strike, founder of NAGAFF; Dr. Boniface Aniebonam had also said last week that there is no concrete decision on the action yet.
There is no concrete agreement yet as ANALCA and NAGAFF are still holding their meeting in their separate offices. We want to first engage the government. The whole thing is like we are operating in an environment where there is no leader. NPA has been making attempt to engage the stakeholders and we feel there is need to engage the government since they want to engage us. We believe in the present leader in NPA, she is very proactive. We also intend to meet with the Comptroller General of Customs, soon. I believe strongly that if ANALCA and NAGAFF work together, they will achieve greater result,” he had said.
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