The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Thursday inaugurated its newly elected executives, marking a pivotal moment in the association’s history setting the stage for renewed unity, vision, and collaborative efforts within the association
The ceremony which held in Lagos, brought together key figures in the maritime industry, each expressing their views on the challenges faced and the path forward for ANLCA.
This is even as the newly inaugurated leaders also pledged their commitment to addressing past issues and steering ANLCA towards a brighter future.
Speaking at the event, the guest speaker; Barr. Hassan Bello, former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) emphasized the importance of restoring calm within ANLCA. Bello highlighted the need for the association to support the government in addressing economic challenges, advocating for a shift from oil dependency to leveraging the maritime industry’s potential.
He harped on transparency, technological adaptation, and professional training within the freight forwarding sector, underscoring the imperative for change and adaptation.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Chairman of the occasion, echoed Bello’s sentiments. Peterside emphasized the necessity of selflessness in leadership, urging the new ANLCA president, Emenike Nwokeoji, to prioritize the interests of its members. He called for unity and tolerance, asserting that a cohesive front would earn the association respect from both the government and industry operators.
While expressing his gratitude for the end of the association’s internal crisis, the new President, Emenike Nwokeoji emphasized the need for collective action among various clearing agents and associations to reclaim the integrity of their profession. He called on agents to join hands in countering those masquerading as legitimate industry players, even as he outlined his vision for charting a new course of relevance for ANLCA.
On his part, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, ANLCA’s Board Chairman, while speaking earlier provided insights into the challenging election that brought the current administration on board. Mustapha acknowledged the interventions from the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and the Customs Comptroller General, attributing the association’s recovery to divine intervention. He urged the new administration to prioritize teamwork, emphasizing the recovery of losses incurred over the past five years and stressing the importance of member welfare over financial contributions to burials.
He urged the newly inaugurated President to learn from past mistakes by fostering unity within the association for a more prosperous future.
