…Decries poor road network
The National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, on Tuesday lamented the traffic situation of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos saying that it was impacting negatively on cargo clearance and trade facilitation.
Shittu who made this known when he led members of the National Executive Committee (NECOM) of the association on a visit to the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of KLT/Brawal Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs. Frances Enwerenuzor also observed that the absence of cargo in the command had rendered the facility was almost comatose.
He was however pleased with the level of cooperation and collaboration existing between ANCLA, the Service and other government agencies in the industry.
The National President seized the opportunity of the visit to advice licensed customs agents practicing in the command to take advantage of the on-going customs-sponsored training of Customs brokers, taking place at the ANLCA National Secretariat.
He emphasized for the umpteenth time that the training and certification would be a prerequisite for the renewal of customs licenses, which would soon take effect warning that over-looking the exercise, would pose challenges during renewal of license which according to him may result to paying high training fees to acquire the certification.
He again thanked the Comptroller General of Customs – Alhaji (Dr) Dikko Inde Abdullahi for the training initiative and urged the service to sustain it in order to put customs brokers on the same page with Customs officers.
On her part, the Customs Area Comptroller, Mrs Frances Enwereuzor, thanked ANLCA for the visit acknowledging that her relationship with ANLCA in the command was very cordial and wished that activities in the command picks up very soon.
On the traffic gridlock which greatly affects movement of humans and cargo around the area, she said her efforts at easing the menace in conjunction with the security agencies lasted for a while and relapsed due largely to compromises.
She lamented that inward bound transfers were hampered by the bottlenecks experienced on the roads leading to the terminals in the command.
Enwereuzor informed the ANLCA visitors that the challenges she earlier had with the server downtimes, has been resolved by improving the infrastructure.
She praised ANLCA President for his Charisma and leadership qualities adding that these qualities explained why ANLCA was well organised and respected.
Also speaking, , the Chairman KLT/Brawal Chapter of ANLCA, Mr. Aloy Anokwuru lamented the dart of cargo in his chapter, and prayed that the visit would engender the inflow of containers to the terminals in the area by embarking on advocacy to the appropriate quarters.
Anokwuru praised Comptroller Frances Enwereuzor for her commitment to duty, caring nature and her motherly role to everyone which had already earned her a Chieftaincy title-designate in her locality in Imo State.
Highlight of the visit was the induction of the CAC as an honorary member of ANLCA and her decoration with ANLCA broach by the National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu.
