The war of words between the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on one hand and four other freight forwarding associations under the aegis of Concerned Accredited Freight Forwarders Association (CAFFA) may have taken a new turn as ANLCA alleged that the CAFFA consisted of blackmailers.
The war of words between the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on one hand and four other freight forwarding associations under the aegis of Concerned Accredited Freight Forwarders Association (CAFFA) may have taken a new turn as ANLCA alleged that the CAFFA consisted of blackmailers.
In a statement sent to Shipping Position Daily correspondent, ANLCA apparently in response to an earlier statement by CAFFA warning the new Customs Comptroller General; Col Hameed Ali to be careful of ANLCA members, ANLCA in return said that the writer of the CAFFA statement is a "rabble rouser"
The association reiterated that it's position is that it has decided to give the new Customs boss a chance to settle down to work.
ANLCA in the statement said that the CG of Customs is in the right position to fix the challenges faced by customs agents, but that freight forwarders should look unto the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) or wait for the Federal Government to name the Transport Minister to assist them fix their own problem.
The statement added that, “one of the cardinal points of Prince Shittu's administration is to make sure that; he protects the customs agents against any annihilation or their rights being trampled upon, so the writer may be correct to say that ANLCA can blow hot or cold. ANLCA will blow hot when her members suffer unnecessarily and will blow cold when her members’ rights are protected and operate in the ports without any hindrance in the course of their daily operations"
"According to international best practices, the only thing that ANLCA doesn't do is that she does not blackmail, available records will attest to this fact".
ANLCA said that it is not however surprised that CAFFA had forgotten so easily the achievements of the former Comptroller General of Customs; Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi and the group is now denying the ex-CGC as if they have never applauded his administration.
The association accused CAFFA members, which it described as a group of 'unregistered people' of trying to be noticed by the new CGC. ANLCA however warned Col Ali to be wary of CAFFA.
It says "These are gullible sets of people that call themselves leaders and they want to romance with any government in power, what they are doing is just to make the new CGC notice them but we advise that the CGC keeps them at arm’s length before they will do damage to his image and start shouting 'to your tent Oh Israel'"
The statement in continued response to some allegations leveled against ANLCA by CAFFA denied that it was not responsible for the pelting of Controller Tajudeen Olanrewaju, the then Controller of Lagos Aiport Command of Customs during a riot.
It said "When Comptroller Tajuden Olanrewaju was stoned, it was ANLCA's chapter chairman that investigated and discovered that this distardly act was perpetrated by unknown freight forwarder because every licensed customs agents that are members of our great association are identify by our biometric identity card which was ANLCA's innovation to rid the ports and land borders of miscreant"
"Tin Can Island container (TICT) was picketed by our chapter executives due to her incapacitation to position containers for examination as at when due and her continual habbit of charging our members for public holidays, which is tantamount to fraudulent activity, all efforts to make them see reason prove abortive”
"The issue of the 100KVA generator was a gift from the D G of standard organization of Nigeria (SON) as her Corporate social responsibility and it has not stopped us from condemning any wrong activity by them"
"The issue of licensing regulation has been overflogged because we have said times without number the CEMA empowers Customs to license only corporate body and not individual freight forwarder that can bolt away"
ANLCA also alleged that many members of CAFFA have been issued Customs licenses in the past but lost it due to fraudulent activities which range from smuggling to duty evasion, among others.
Discussion about this post