New Horizon for ANLCA, After Customs, Elders’ Intervention
NWOKEOJI
By Francis Ugwoke
For members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), it is indeed good news having achieved peace after years of crisis. With the intervention of elders in the industry, the association which has been in turmoil over the years finally held a peaceful election. The election produced Chief Emenike Nwokeoji as the new President. It would be recalled that Nwokeoji had about six years ago contested for the Presidency of ANLCA but lost to Iju Tony Nwabunike. Nwokeoji as it would appear has therefore been on the side waiting for another chance till the last exercise.
Before the last election, ANLCA was in crisis for about five years of the tenure of Nwabunike. It would be recalled that Nwabunike had early last year traveled to the United States on study leave. He handed over power to his Deputy, Dr. Kayode Farinto, a vibrant customs agent who contested with Nwokeoji but lost. Farinto like Nwanunike faced a lot of battles, at a point that it became life-threatening. About three times the national headoffice of ANLCA was attacked apparently with the intent to maim some executive members. They however survived it. But indeed had no peace. There was rancor everywhere as far as the association was concerned. It only took men of strong will, like Farinto, to survive the situation. This was the trend until the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) intervened. But there was not much the Council could do. Even after the peace process held at Eko Hotels in Lagos with all the agreement, the crisis persisted.
It was at this stage that the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) headed by the former Chairman, CRFFN Governing Board, Alhaji Hakeem Olarewaju intervened to bring about peace. He was assisted by the Secretary of CCC, Dr. Eugene Nweke. The CCC assembled strong elders of goodwill in the industry, including Chief Chris Okocha, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Alhaji Sani Kamba, Alhaji Inua Mohammed, Chief Ernest Elochukwu, among others. They had met in Abuja where they brainstormed to settle all the issues leading to the appointment of an Administrator that held sway until the election that produced Nwokeoji was held.
At the same time, the unseen hand in the settlement of the matter was the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. For obvious reasons, Adeniyi had to be involved. He cannot be comfortable while the association whose members are licensed by the Customs continues to be in crisis. It has negative implication on trade. The agents play prominent roles in revenue generation by the Customs. Many stakeholders, including freight forwarders and maritime journalists have continued to commend the customs leadership for the role it played in ANCA to arrive at the current peace level. For many industry stakeholders, it would have been difficult if not for the intervention of the Customs Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who was apparently encouraged by the leaders of thought in ANLCA. As a source said, it was only the Customs leadership for obvious reasons that the two strong warring factions in ANLCA led by Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha who was tipped as the BoT Chairman of the association and the former Deputy President of that association, Dr. Farinto, would have listened to. The election was later held during which Nwokeoji emerged. Since the election, stakeholders have commended the two former factions, particularly those of Dr. Farinto for embracing peace. Farinto has since congratulated the new President. Similarly, the former President, Nwabunike has also congratulated the new President. He also said the new executive is lucky to have Adeniyi as the customs boss. He explained that this was because Adeniyi remains “a tested hand any day any time”, having been in the maritime industry for decades as customs officer.
Nwabunike described Adeniyi as a seasoned customs officer who has the industry in his palms. According to him, what the administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu did in appointing Adeniyi as Customs CG has been the prayer of customs agents over the decades.
He called on members of ANLCA and other freight forwarders to give the new CG the desired cooperation to succeed.
In reaction to the ANLCA peaceful election, the CCC also appreciated the members over the peaceful conduct of the election that produced new officers.
The Secretary of the Committee, Nweke, said all ANLCA leaders worked hard for the success of the just concluded election by obeying the Abuja peace accord.
Nweke praised the former NECOM of ANLCA led by Farinto for being on the path of peace, while also congratulating the newly elected NECOM of ANLCA.
He reminded the new leadership that it was now time to perform.
According to the Committee, it was now time to “heal old and new wounds, restore back professional Integrity and above all show prompt leadership capacity”.
He said, “like the saying goes that, “to who much is given much is expected”, your members have on this remarkable date entrusted their professional destiny into your care, for exemplary, proactive and quality leadership representation in the next four years.
“The task ahead of you is enormous especially in the face of a dwindling professional fortunes and a sector characterised by challenges, often promoted by human barrier elements.
“The Customs Consultative Committee wishes to reiterate that, it is time to move forward and recover lost grounds, we wish you all a successful, action and achievements packed tenure.”
For observers, the statement from CCC captures the expectations of both members of the association and other observers on the way forward. The crisis in the association has left the industry in a quagmire with no strong voice, or not enough, to tackle ills being committed in the system by those described as interlopers. The new executive is also expected to come up with agenda for peace among all members. This means carrying every member along to avoid whatever led to the crisis in the past. With peace in the association, it can now align with other associations for a common good for members and the industry.
For members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), it is indeed good news having achieved peace after years of crisis. With the intervention of elders in the industry, the association which has been in turmoil over the years finally held a peaceful election. The election produced Chief Emenike Nwokeoji as the new President. It would be recalled that Nwokeoji had about six years ago contested for the Presidency of ANLCA but lost to Iju Tony Nwabunike. Nwokeoji as it would appear has therefore been on the side waiting for another chance till the last exercise.
Before the last election, ANLCA was in crisis for about five years of the tenure of Nwabunike. It would be recalled that Nwabunike had early last year traveled to the United States on study leave. He handed over power to his Deputy, Dr. Kayode Farinto, a vibrant customs agent who contested with Nwokeoji but lost. Farinto like Nwanunike faced a lot of battles, at a point that it became life-threatening. About three times the national headoffice of ANLCA was attacked apparently with the intent to maim some executive members. They however survived it. But indeed had no peace. There was rancor everywhere as far as the association was concerned. It only took men of strong will, like Farinto, to survive the situation. This was the trend until the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) intervened. But there was not much the Council could do. Even after the peace process held at Eko Hotels in Lagos with all the agreement, the crisis persisted.
It was at this stage that the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) headed by the former Chairman, CRFFN Governing Board, Alhaji Hakeem Olarewaju intervened to bring about peace. He was assisted by the Secretary of CCC, Dr. Eugene Nweke. The CCC assembled strong elders of goodwill in the industry, including Chief Chris Okocha, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Alhaji Sani Kamba, Alhaji Inua Mohammed, Chief Ernest Elochukwu, among others. They had met in Abuja where they brainstormed to settle all the issues leading to the appointment of an Administrator that held sway until the election that produced Nwokeoji was held.
At the same time, the unseen hand in the settlement of the matter was the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. For obvious reasons, Adeniyi had to be involved. He cannot be comfortable while the association whose members are licensed by the Customs continues to be in crisis. It has negative implication on trade. The agents play prominent roles in revenue generation by the Customs. Many stakeholders, including freight forwarders and maritime journalists have continued to commend the customs leadership for the role it played in ANCA to arrive at the current peace level. For many industry stakeholders, it would have been difficult if not for the intervention of the Customs Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who was apparently encouraged by the leaders of thought in ANLCA. As a source said, it was only the Customs leadership for obvious reasons that the two strong warring factions in ANLCA led by Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha who was tipped as the BoT Chairman of the association and the former Deputy President of that association, Dr. Farinto, would have listened to. The election was later held during which Nwokeoji emerged. Since the election, stakeholders have commended the two former factions, particularly those of Dr. Farinto for embracing peace. Farinto has since congratulated the new President. Similarly, the former President, Nwabunike has also congratulated the new President. He also said the new executive is lucky to have Adeniyi as the customs boss. He explained that this was because Adeniyi remains “a tested hand any day any time”, having been in the maritime industry for decades as customs officer.
Nwabunike described Adeniyi as a seasoned customs officer who has the industry in his palms. According to him, what the administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu did in appointing Adeniyi as Customs CG has been the prayer of customs agents over the decades.
He called on members of ANLCA and other freight forwarders to give the new CG the desired cooperation to succeed.
In reaction to the ANLCA peaceful election, the CCC also appreciated the members over the peaceful conduct of the election that produced new officers.
The Secretary of the Committee, Nweke, said all ANLCA leaders worked hard for the success of the just concluded election by obeying the Abuja peace accord.
Nweke praised the former NECOM of ANLCA led by Farinto for being on the path of peace, while also congratulating the newly elected NECOM of ANLCA.
He reminded the new leadership that it was now time to perform.
According to the Committee, it was now time to “heal old and new wounds, restore back professional Integrity and above all show prompt leadership capacity”.
He said, “like the saying goes that, “to who much is given much is expected”, your members have on this remarkable date entrusted their professional destiny into your care, for exemplary, proactive and quality leadership representation in the next four years.
“The task ahead of you is enormous especially in the face of a dwindling professional fortunes and a sector characterised by challenges, often promoted by human barrier elements.
“The Customs Consultative Committee wishes to reiterate that, it is time to move forward and recover lost grounds, we wish you all a successful, action and achievements packed tenure.”
For observers, the statement from CCC captures the expectations of both members of the association and other observers on the way forward. The crisis in the association has left the industry in a quagmire with no strong voice, or not enough, to tackle ills being committed in the system by those described as interlopers. The new executive is also expected to come up with agenda for peace among all members. This means carrying every member along to avoid whatever led to the crisis in the past. With peace in the association, it can now align with other associations for a common good for members and the industry.
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