For what it described as series of verbal and written attacks on its association by a group called ‘Concerned Accredited Freight Forwarding Association’ (CAFFA) the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has written a petition to the office of the Minister of Transport, asking him to disregard the communiqué issued by the new body last week.
For what it described as series of verbal and written attacks on its association by a group called ‘Concerned Accredited Freight Forwarding Association’ (CAFFA) the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has written a petition to the office of the Minister of Transport, asking him to disregard the communiqué issued by the new body last week.
The CAFFA is made up of four registered freight forwarding associations namely; the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Association of Registered Freight Forwarders (AREFF) National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and the National Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC).
The CAFFA was formed recently to challenge ANLCA over the collection of Practitioners Operating Fee.
In the petition, ANLCA said it has observed with dismay the “bundle of lies and half truths being peddled around by the relevant seeking group”, CAFFA, with an attempt of portraying ANLCA as confrontational to the office of the honorable minister.
The Concerned Accredited Freight Forwarders had issued a communiqué at the end of its meeting last week and demanded that the Minister should de-register ANLCA.
In the communiqué, the group said that: "The Honorable Minister, having in mind the enormity of the flagrant abuse and disrespect for the constituted authority of the CRFFN is being advised to as a matter of urgency deregister the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) from the register of freight forwarders in Nigeria, relying on Section 5 of the CRFFN Act".
But in its reaction which is contained in a letter signed by its National Secretary, Dr. Opara Ogu, addressed to the Minister and sent to Shipping Position Daily, ANLCA described itself as the main association in the cargo clearing chain and that its members account for 90% of the practicing agents across the seaports, terminals and airports and that they are the only ones in position of making any payment in the ports.
ANLCA alleged that the other associations have chosen to cry more than the bereaved because the only interest they have in the operations of the CRFFN is the share of revenue they are expecting from the proposed collection of the fees.
ANLCA said that its National Executive Committee decided to suspend talks with CRFFN on the fees’ collection because it was clear that there was no governing council in place and the management staff of the council cannot be take the place of the governing council.
It stated that: "It would be a huge joke for any group to believe it could decide on any collection from clearing agents without putting ANLCA's position into consideration"
"They have tried hard to create an erroneous impression that ANLCA is challenging your ministerial authority by harping unnecessarily on section 5(1) of the CRFFN Act".
The statement reads further that: "with regards to their subtle suggestion of 'allocating' slots to various associations in the composition of the Governing Council, we are quite confident that you would not be swayed by such primordial sentiments since the Act clearly stipulates that representatives of freight forwarders shall be elected from amongst them".
While assuring the minister of ANLCA's highest regards, the association pledged to cooperate with any initiative aimed at improving the operational standards of the freight forwarder and reaping the full benefits of the noble intentions of the CRFFN Act 16 of 2007.
Discussion about this post