As the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) National Executive marks its one year in office, the leadership has lashed out at its detractors, blaming them for stalling progress within the association.
Emmanuel Onyeme, the National Publicity Secretary of the association, revealed that the current leadership inherited significant internal issues and has spent the past year attempting to restore order and functionality amidst constant disruptions.
“We came into office at a time when the association was deeply divided and to be honest, we inherited a mess,” Onyeme said in an interview with news men recently. “Instead of supporting our efforts to clean things up and move forward, some of the same individuals who caused the chaos have been making our job even harder. It’s like they don’t want ANLCA to succeed.”
Onyeme pointed to factionalism, lingering disputes, and lack of financial accountability as major problems the current executive has been dealing with since assuming office. He stated that the leadership has been working tirelessly to restore unity, but progress has been slow due to constant interference from both internal and external elements determined to undermine their efforts.
“Many people don’t realize how bad things were financially when we took over. The association’s accounts were practically depleted, and we had to start from scratch. We’ve had to make difficult decisions, including cutting back on expenses and prioritizing the association’s core needs,” Onyeme explained. “Still, despite all our efforts, there are people who would rather see us fail than acknowledge the hard work we’ve put in.”
The ANLCA National Executive, led by President Tony Iju Nwabunike, has faced intense criticism from some quarters, particularly from factions that had previously been in control. Onyeme suggested that some of these criticisms were politically-motivated, designed to weaken the new leadership’s authority and distract from their achievements. “It’s unfortunate that instead of unity, some people are bent on sowing discord,” he lamented.
One of the biggest achievements of the current executive, according to Onyeme, has been the steps taken to restore peace within the association. He noted that before the current leadership took over, ANLCA was plagued by constant infighting and leadership disputes, which affected the morale of members and the association’s credibility in the eyes of stakeholders. “We’ve come a long way in healing those wounds, but it’s a gradual process. Rebuilding trust takes time,” he said.
Onyeme also highlighted the leadership’s efforts to improve transparency and accountability in ANLCA’s operations. He pointed out that measures have been put in place to ensure that the association’s finances are properly managed and that members can hold the leadership accountable. “We’re not just cleaning up the mess; we’re putting systems in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Onyeme assured.
Despite these strides, Onyeme admitted that the association still faces significant challenges, including the need to engage more effectively with government agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Ports Authority. He noted that ANLCA’s ability to influence policy and represent the interests of customs agents has been hampered by the internal strife that has dogged the association for years.
Looking ahead, Onyeme expressed optimism that ANLCA would emerge stronger if the leadership is given the necessary support and allowed to carry out its reforms. He urged members to be patient and give the executive time to complete the work they have started. “One year is not enough to fix years of dysfunction. We are working hard, but we need all hands on deck to truly transform ANLCA into the respected organization it should be,” he emphasized.
He called on the aggrieved factions to put the interests of the association first and stop actions that continue to destabilize the body. “At the end of the day, we are all ANLCA members and we all want what’s best for the association. It’s time for everyone to set aside personal agendas and work together to build a stronger, united ANLCA,” Onyeme concluded.
He stated that as the ANLCA National Executive enters its second year, the leadership remains focused on resolving lingering internal disputes, restoring financial stability, and strengthening the association’s standing within the Nigerian maritime industry.
