Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has finally put an end to the over four year’s crisis that rocked the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
The Council, following its determination to put an end to the crisis in the association on Wednesday during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association presided over by the CRFFN Chairman, Abubakar Tsanni was able to make the two factions of the association to sheath their swords.
Even though there was initial disapproval by some members to the plans to merge four Board of Trustees (BoT) members from each faction together, the meeting however after prolonged arguments settled for the eight BoT members which include: Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, Ozor Chukwura, Eniola Igbaroola, Dayo Azeez, Ernest Elochukwu, Kingsley Offor, Dennis Okafor and Alhaji Shamsedeen Awopeju who thereafter took the oath of office in the presence of the association’s members.
Prince Taiye Oyeniyi who was the former secretary of the Taiwo Mustapha-led BoT willingly relinquished his position.
As a result of the development, the association decorated Prince Taiye Oyeniyi as a Patron of the association.
Tsanni however noted that the council will be meeting with the association in the next two weeks in continuation of all other peace processes where issues of certain positions including the NECOM election will be discussed.
Apparently satisfied with the resolution, Tsanni said: “Today, God has done it again by showing us His power in resolving this crisis of five years and today we’ve all agreed and have come up with eight members of the BoT that have been inaugurated today and the factions have decided to come back to one. So there is peace now in the association”.
The Chairman also inaugurated the seven-member Association Electoral Commission (ASECO) which include: Aloy Anokuru, Fatimehin Tope, Samuel Obe, Babalola Lekan and three others.
At the AGM, the Chairman CRFFN had initially threatened to withdraw the license of ANLCA and lock up the secretariat until peace was attained.
Normalcy however returned following the plea of the acting President of the association Dr. Kayode Farinto.
Farinto had pleaded with the members to accept the CRFFN intervention so as to give room for lasting peace in the association.
He also argued that the powers of the BoT in ANLCA should be reduced and be in accordance to Companies Allied Matters Acts (CAMA) of 2020 which states that the role of the BoT should be advisory.
He however noted that despite the differences between both parties, there is no doubt that leaders in the other party have contributed immensely to the growth of the association.
Speaking also at the meeting, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha former factional BoT chairman appealed to all aggrieved members of the association to embrace peace.
He said, “whatever was brought to the table today was out of being magnanimous. It has been a situation of give and take. We must have the spirit of forgiveness. This ANLCA will be great again,” Mustapha said.
On his part, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi expressed delight over the peaceful resolution, he stated that the association only went into recess and not dead as some have speculated.
Also, acting Registrar, CRFFN, Mrs Chinyere Uromta, said that it felt good seeing the way ANLCA members displayed their grieves, wisdom and understanding as demonstrated.
According to her, it shows that they really want one house and for peace to reign.
“Where there is peace, there is progress. It’s a plus for the council and the freight forwarders, so that they grow the economy of the country,” she said.
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