Still making reference to the alleged assault by members of Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on officials of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) at Seme border recently, a body of four freight forwarding associations under the aegis of Concerned Accredited Freight Forwarders Association (CAFFA) has renewed its call on the government to deregister the Prince Olayiwola Shittu-led ANLCA.
Still making reference to the alleged assault by members of Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on officials of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) at Seme border recently, a body of four freight forwarding associations under the aegis of Concerned Accredited Freight Forwarders Association (CAFFA) has renewed its call on the government to deregister the Prince Olayiwola Shittu-led ANLCA.
In a statement sent to Shipping Position Daily on Tuesday and signed by leaders of the four federating associations namely: National President (NAGAFF) Chief Eugene Nweke Chief Festus Ejiofor of National President, NCMDLCA, Chief C. A. T. Agubamah and Dr. Frank Ukor National Presidents, of NAFFAC, AREFFN respectively, they alleged that ANLCA has been frustrating effort by the ministry to reposition the freight forwarding sub sector.
The letter sent to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport further added that ANLCA is bent on perpetuating chaos and anarchy in the nation's ports.
According to CAFFA, there is need to call ANLCA to order or deregister it by the regulatory body; the i for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
"Anything short of deregistering ANLCA by CRFFN will not bring this sssociation to its senses. "
" Sir, as for us, the Concerned Accredited Freight Forwarders Associations (CAFFA members), we believe the current situation in the country calls for every patriotic Nigerian to remain calm and not do anything that will heighten tension in the country."
CAFFA said it will continue to support the ministry of transport for it to move the maritime industry forward, it alleged that ANLCA is the only group that is thwarting the ministry's efforts.
"We wish to pledge our support for whatever the Ministry, and by extension the Government is doing to reposition our industry and we will do everything within our power to ensure the success of the ministry."
"However, it is very disheartening that while the Ministry is “sweating it out” to reposition the industry for optimal performance, the activities of our sister association, i.e. the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) seem to be throwing “spanners in the work” of the efforts of the ministry."
"As a matter of fact, it is the “talk of the town” among stakeholders in the industry, that ANLCA seems to have set out to frustrate the efforts of the Government and yet, the Government appears incapable of “calling ANLCA to order”.
"This new posture by ANLCA negates the peace accord reached by the stakeholders at the July 3, 2015 meeting and it was the hope then that resolutions at the meeting will help to achieve peaceful co-existence among stakeholders, especially the associations and CRFFN".
“It seems ANLCA is bent on perpetuating chaos and anarchy in the ports. "
" We want the Government to know that ANLCA is trying to provoke violence at the ports as there is a limit to how the other associations can remain patient in the face of these provocations by ANLCA."
"You would recall that over the collection of the POF, ANLCA had attacked and beaten up some CRFFN officials and our members at Seme, inflicting serious and life threatening injuries on them. "
"As law-abiding citizens, we did not retaliate. Although, we were not so pleased with the response of the Government to this violence against the CRFFN officials and our members (some of who are still receiving treatment), however to ensure that peace reigns, we allowed that to pass."
" But the stakeholders in the industry have come to the conclusion that ANLCA is above the law."
"Therefore, for the Government to restore its credibility as a defender of the weak and the custodian of law and order, it is high time Government took a drastic action to call ANLCA to order and cut it (ANLCA) to size."
"For ANLCA to have come out after the agreement reached at the July 3, 2015 stakeholders meeting with the Permanent Secretary, to order its members not to comply with the payment of the POF is nothing but an affront on the Government."
" We make bold to say that the Government needs to mete out the punishment stipulated in the status books and come down heavily on the Association to send clear signals to those hell bent on confronting the Government as ANLCA is doing”, the statement added.
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