ANLCA, Customs To Strengthen Collaboration On Membership Upskilling 

The  National Executive Committee (NECOM) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Wednesday, seek collaboration with management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on the best way to upskill members with modern techniques associated with cargo clearance.

The ANLCA National Executive Committee (NECOM) led by its National President, Emenike Nwokeoji, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the acting  Comptroller General of customs, Wale Adeniyi at the Customs headquarters , Abuja.

According to a statement made available to newsmen by Emmanuel C. Onyeme, National Publicity Secretary, ANLCA, the last  courtesy call occured  eight years ago when the Association executives visited  management of the NCS.

Speaking at the meeting, National President of ANLCA, said his administration would focus on bridge building that will involve stakeholders and members of the association,while  appealing  for the Comptroller General to assign top officials to always intervene whenever there are issues to resolve in line with the business of cargo clearance.

Nwokeoji reiterated that training of members was key towards boosting trade facilitation and seamless cargo clearance from the nation’s ports, urging the top customs brass to look inward for continuous capacity building programme for members of ANLCA.

He noted that” We appeal to  you  our CGC to dedicate one  or two officers of your management team, if we cannot reach you, we can sit with them to resolve issues. ”

The ANLCA National President also thanked the CGC for releasing 33 licences of ANLCA members which was hacked by fraudulent people and further seek for the release of other innocent ones that are still remaining.

Whilst  going down memory lane, the ANLCA President said  he had lost election in 2018 as a sitting Vice President with only three votes, but added that  he never went to court, rather went back to  business.

 

However, he lauded the Acting CGC and his management team for the warm reception.

The ANLCA President was accompanied by BOT chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and members of Customs Consultative Council (CCC)  led by Aare Hakeem Olarenwaju.

On his part,  Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, while congratulating the new Customs boss, pay glowing tribute to late CGC of the Service, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, saying in over five years of the ANLCA crises, members can return back to their National Secretariat, which according to him, the late Dikko contributed 70% to the building.

Mustapha said they are here to identify with the customs, emphasising  that  is a good thing the Customs have  a new management, just like ANLCA and assured that what the association has lost in the last five years will be regained soon.

Congratulating  the Acting CGC, Mustapha said “With your character you will succeed. ANLCA is reborn and we are sure to regain our lost glory” . He also lauded the CCC for the role played in bringing lasting peace to ANLCA.

In his opening speech, Chairman of the CCC, Aare Hakeem Olarenwaju congratulated the Acting Comptroller General of the service for his appointment and wished him success during his tenure.

Olarenwaju said they were at the Customs Headquarters to officially introduce the new ANLCA NECOM to management , saying that the CCC has finally  brought back peace to the Association by  conducting the NECOM election which is adjudged to  be  the best in all ANLCA elections.

On his part, Austin Warikoru, a retired DCG and member of the CCC informed the Customs Management that the association will conduct it’s Board of Trustees election within the next two months and urged all ANLCA members to get prepared.

Responding, the Acting CGC of Customs, Wale Adeniyi assured that there will be robust training programmes for the customs brokers.

Whilst congratulating the ANLCA NECOM members, Adeniyi stated that this is the first time in the last eight years an organised ANLCA executives  paid a courtesy visit to the Customs Headquarters.

Adeniyi said the service needs a credible platform for stakeholders engagement and  commended  the CCC for doing a good job , despite the challenges.

The Customs boss urged the new ANLCA NECOM to get  to work and bring back sanity to the association and the  Profession. He said the success of the ANLCA NECOM election has laid the foundation  for stakeholders engagement by the Service.

On the issuance of licenses, he said henceforth, any Customs license  involved in fraudulent jobs will not be renewed, while all renewed licenses will be placed and viewed in a platform for all to see.

He pointed out that”In the same vain,  all active and performing licenses will remain in the platform, while for those who just obtain license without using them will be relegated,”he stated.

Adeniyi said there are lot of incentives for importers in the new Customs Act, among them are,  Advance Ruling on Valuation, Classifications which importers can enjoy for six months. Authorized Economic Operator ( AEO) which profiled importers can enjoy among others.

The Acting CGC to informed the gathering  that the  yearly Annual Comptroller General Conference  will come back from this year 2023.

The visit was also attended by all the newly elected members of ANLCA, NECOM and CCC members.

 

By Roland Ekama