The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) have resolved to enter strategic alliance to tackle and proffer solutions to numerous issues confronting the maritime industry.
The two foremost associations of freight forwarding and customs brokerage affirmed that the maritime sector have suffered setbacks in the last two years , hence the need to address most of the issues alongside other practitioners.
Speaking during a working visit by the National Executive Committee (NECOM) of ANLCA led by its President,Mr. Tony Iju Nwabunike to the headquarters of the NAGAFF ,while stating the purpose of the visit, said “Thee leadership of the association had come to find a way to make things work for the growth of the industry.
Nwabunike assured stakeholders that the two associations would come up with a communique to itemise some of the challenges in the sector , engage the government and nip those issues in the bud.
“We say we must come for the first time since we were elected, we should have been here before now but some challenges
“It is not a speech making day but a day that we should sit down together and synergise to know exactly how to make things work
“Our members have been going through severe and excruciating pains bringing out their containers from the port putting the services of the maritime industry on notice.
“So I felt it is very important first to come to have a good working relationship with NAGAFF which I consider very seriously
“We felt we should meet all the freight forwarding associations to make our points straight on governmemt policies, road network or whatever is bringing impediment to the progress of the maritime industry should be tackled together, that is why we are here.
“So, we need to put our house, our minds and resources together to get these things working even in our industrial businesses, in CRFFN and in our businesses.
Earlier, the National President of NAGAFF, Chief Increase Uche in his welcome address appreciated the visit of the NECOM members of ANLCA even as he quipped that it was necessary for both associations to collaborate for efficient port operations.
He said it was important to understand the problems of the port and coming together to tackle the problems.
While calling on both associations to pursue common goals, he prayed that the friendship that has started between the two groups be sustained.
By Roland Ekama
