National President of ANLCA, Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike

BY FRANCIS EZEM

In what appeared a self-assessment, the National President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA, Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike has said that the National Executive Council of the association has performed very well in the last one year, achieving 70 per cent of its growth projections set at the inception of the new administration last year.

Recall that the seven-man NEC was officially inaugurated on April 14, 2018. This was sequel to the conclusion of the keenly contested general elections of the association held on March 16, 2018 in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, in which Nwabunike defeated his rival, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji, who was then the incumbent vice president.

The President who spoke in an interview, noted that the new administration in the last one year has put itself to task in the face of obvious distractions and challenges by vigorously pursuing the targets set at the beginning of the new government, which led to 70 per cent success. He noted that the unattained 30 per cent was basically due to human errors and other unavoidable circumstances.

He noted that one of the major targets set by the administration, which is also in tandem with the campaign promises, was to professionalise the freight forwarding practice, disclosing that scores of members have in the last one year been trained on international best practice in freight forwarding and Customs Brokerage business.

This, according to him include training in the areas of Information Communication ICT, with a view to equipping and making them ICT-compliant and globally competitive.

He also disclosed that during the review period, the administration was able to foster a cordial relationship between members of the association and other government agencies including the Nigeria Customs Service, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC and Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON, which enhanced free flow of trade and a measure of control during the review period.

Other areas of progress include the return of stability to the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forward in Nigeria CRFFN, which the current leadership of the association did in conjunction with other sister associations, especially the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders NAGAFF, among several others.

Going forward, the President disclosed that in the second year of the administration, the EXCO would focus on the establishment of the Institute of Licensed Customs Brokers, which it is currently working on in conjunction with the National Assembly with a view to chartering and certifying Customs Brokers in line with international standards.

He also said that the association would embark on an aggressive international training for members, using the train the trainers model to curtail capital flight, disclosing that the Vice President, Dr. Kayode Farinto heads the committee on training.  

It was also gathered that the leadership is working towards uniting the other entire sister associations with a view to making them speak with one voice in line with efforts to address some of the ills of the industry, especially those that affect their members negatively.

To this effect, the association’s leadership is also planning a meeting with the leaderships of the maritime truckers associations in order to contribute its quota to the efforts to checking the grid lock around the seaport access roads, which affects everyone negatively.

Still on members’ welfare, the President hinted that a meeting with the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali was being planned to discuss the operations of the various units and task forces set up by the management, which more often than not impinge on the ability of members to do their legitimate and professional businesses without delay and abuse.

He assured that the administration was doing everything humanly possible to resolve the skirmishes among some members of the association so that peace and tranquility would continually reign in the association.