About two weeks ago, licensed customs agents at Tin Can Island threatened to go on strike over certain disagreements with Customs. It took the intervention of the national president of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu to ensure a cease fire.
Mid last week again, there was a resurgence of fear of imminent strike; this time by both ANLCA and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF). But the latter opted out and left ANLCA’s leadership at Tin Can Island port all alone.
For those who can remember, it was only about two years ago that the three major associations in the ports teamed up to embark on a strike which successfully paralysed the ports
Until that withdrawal of services, there was no meeting point between the trio of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents.
That action was probably the first time since 1998 when the Council of Managing Directors was carved out of ANLCA and since 1999 when NAGAFF also broke away that the duo would be pursuing the same cause and doing same jointly.
Perhaps, one of the reasons that made the three-day action to record the kind of success that it recorded was the formation of a joint action committee by the three groups and allowing the national president of the Council of Managing Directors, Mr Lucky Amiwero to be the arrow head.
Arguably, the oldest in terms of politics of licensed customs agents, Amiwero was there during the time of Dr Rafiu Ladipo as the national president of ANLCA and up till when he opted to float his own group, he was actively involved in ANLCA politics, having served as its national publicity secretary once.
As the oldest umbrella body for licensed customs agents, ANLCA has had, Dr Rafiu Ladipo, Alhaji Sani Kamba, Mr Peter Okocha, Aare Sanni Shittu, Alhaji Inua Mohammed, Chief Ernest Elochukwu and lately, Prince Olayiwola Shittu as national presidents.
While NAGAFF can now boast of at least three presidents in the persons of its founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, Mr Usman Sanusi and Mr Eugene Nweke, the older Council of Managing Directors also has two if the short tenure of Dr Ladipo is to be considered. The incumbent, Mr Amiwero has been president for about 13 years.
Without mincing words, ANLCA still remains the ‘father’ that gave birth to the two. But these ‘children’ appear to be giving their ‘father’ a very stiff competition, considering the fact that (at a time) they almost took the shine off ANLCA which allowed the duo of Council and NAGAFF to gain more prominence.
Without necessarily wanting to make a comparison of the three associations, ANLCA practically went under for NAGAFF to take its place and become the rallying point for grass root licensed customs agents. The popular NAGAFF village became the loudest reference point for agitation and advocacy.
Similarly, the emergence of the Lucky Amiwero-led Council of Managing Directors as the most vocal and most reliable in terms of criticising ‘unfriendly’ policies and sometimes effecting the desired change robbed ANLCA of its pride of place.
Many stakeholders will still remember how the image of its former president (Kamba) loomed so large in the industry so much so that his ANLCA determined the fate of so many things; especially issues that concern the practice of clearing and associated matters.
All that changed after the infamous non-Import Duty Report (IDR) saga of 1995 which led to the revocation of operating licenses of virtually all registered customs agents for alleged complicity in the clearance of questionable imports.
We think that it is too early in the day for the new ANLCA to lose control of its chapters. What happened at Tin Can Island port recently when its chapter leadership went on withdrawal of service against the stand of its national leadership is a worrisome signal.
Secondly, the fact that the NAGAFF chapter at the same port which had earlier supported and mobilised for the strike withdrew is equally a bad omen.
That takes us to the status of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN). It is unfortunate that the Hon. Tony Nwabunike-led council is never taken into confidence nor carried along when licensed customs agents have issues to resolve with either the government or any port operator.
But, the fact is that the Council remains the rallying point because it is the only body that is legally saddled with the responsibility of superintending activities of freight forwarders; including licensed customs agents. The trio of NAGAFF, ANLCA and the Council of Managing Directors remain what they are: associations.
Because of the obvious difficulties of going back to the one association era, it is easier for the trio to rally behind the CRFFN, while still retaining their identities.
We suggest that while CRFFN remains the umpire and regulator, the various freight forwarding associations should work more seriously towards forging a common front.
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