Oluyinka Onigbinde
The National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Mr Tony Nwabunike has lamented the impact of insecurity in the country on the cost of doing business in the country.
Nwabunike, in his Easter message that was sent to our correspondent on Sunday, lamented that insecurity in Nigeria touches everyone in adverse ways, emphasising that insecurity has driven the cost of doing business higher, increased time spent in the ports, reduced returns on investments and affected the joy of many.
Nwabunike who also decried the ill-fated Kaduna-bound train that was attacked recently, urged Nigerians not to get tired of praying for Nigeria, especially in the area of security and pray fervently for the release of fellow countrymen and women being held by terrorists.
He stressed that insecurity has affected the development of the country transport infrastructure and as well threatened the growing hope the nation have in moving cargoes from seaports to the hinterland.
He also noted that if the country ports are not properly, utilised, import and export cargoes will suffer clogs in the logistics chain.
The ANLCA President advised that our collective interest should be in the cargo sector where government makes money which it uses for remuneration of its employees, service charges collected and profit from warehousing and sales are obtained.
Nwabunike urged the government, especially politicians at the helm of affairs, not to be subsumed by the hysteria of present campaigns and forget that some citizens are still with kidnappers this Easter season.
His message reads in part: ”As we go holidaying for the Easter celebrations, I find it imperative to rub minds with all licensed customs brokers, freight forwarders and colleagues in the total logistics chain in Nigeria.
“Apart from being symbolic in many ways, Easter celebration also signifies a lot for mankind in different spheres – Peace, sacrifice, loyalty, politics, economy and social areas.
Potentials of a peaceful Nigeria are limitless and whenever or wherever peace is lost, the results includes instability and lack of a cohesive direction.
“Let’s also also not get tired of praying for Nigeria, especially In the area of security and pray fervently for the release of our fellow countrymen and women being held by terrorists.
“The ill-fated Kaduna-bound train that was attacked recently, did come as one attack too many on our developing transport infrastructure and threatened the growing hope we have in moving cargoes from seaports to the hinterland.
“It could have been anyone else because we are not more safety or security conscious than the victims who boarded a Federal Government train with assurances of security
“This occurrence also sets back the anticipated seamlessness that cargoes ought to have moved from Lagos and Portharcourt to Kano and Kaduna States.
“Insecurity in Nigeria touches everyone in adverse ways, we can’t pretend about it. It has driven the cost of doing business higher, increased time spent, reduced returns on investments and affected the joy of many.
“Our ports are not properly utilised if import and export cargoes suffer clogs in the logistics chain. From the farmer of export produce, whose field is occupied by terrorists to the dockworkers waiting to assist in the loading and unloading of cargoes, we are all involved.
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“Our collective interest is in the cargo because from it government revenue is gotten, remuneration for employees made, service charges collected and profit from warehousing and sales are obtained.
“With these in mind, I call on the government, especially politicians at the helm of affairs, not to be subsumed by the hysteria of present campaigns and forget that some citizens are away with kidnappers this Easter season.
“Let’s supplicate for victory from God in favour of our armed forces who stay awake and alert at all times to keep us safe. Their victory is our safety
“We are entitled to being happy because we are part of a blessed country whose true potentials are yet to be fully harnessed for collective benefits.
“If we fear God, we will love fellow men and women and society will be better for it” he said.
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