The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) is to hold the 2016 Conference of the International Federation of Customs Brokers Association (IFCBA) in Nigeria.
The National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu dropped this hint on Monday in Lagos at the swearing in ceremony of the new National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Dr. Kayode Farintho and the Chairman, Lillypond/Ijora Chapter of the association, Mr. Olabanji Olufemi.
Shittu however said that unless the incoming government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari gives its financial support for the conference, the idea may as well be a mirage adding that the importance of such world gathering could not be underestimated as it goes to show the caliber of people such a country parades before the world.
He observed that it was based on the potentials the association and on the recommendations of other Customs Brokers Association that ANLCA was made a member of the Governing Board of IFCBA saying that till date, ANLCA still play significant role in the world body.
“And we came in 2012 because of our potentials and recommendations, we were made member of the governing board and today we are still involved in what is going on in that world body. They are still requesting Nigeria to hold the 2016 Conference of that customs brokers from all over the world. I pray if the government of Buhari will not be too stingy to say they can support otherwise that could be a mirage because when the world gathers at your doorstep, it shows the world the caliber you have and that is what we strive. By the grace of God, we can do it”.
“And I can tell you that Dr. Farintho whispered when he heard this thing some weeks ago even before this election, he said, “President I will like to be part of your team, we can do it” and I have the believe that we can do it. The only way we have been doing it in ANLCA including this edifice you are sitting down is because together everyone can achieve more”.
“Team was the watchword when I was coming in 2010 and team must be sustained in ANLCA, we can disagree, we can quarrel, we can fight, that is the vicissitude of life but if we quarrel, let us start solving that quarrel within not without”, he said.
He recalled that the Secretary General of the World Customs Organisation , Mr. Kunio Mikuriya had invited him as the President of the association on Wednesday to deliver a statement on the association’s relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service describing it as another credit to the association.
According to him,” and I am happy today that apart from our belonging to international body, it was at the request of Mikuriya, the Secretary of the World Customs Organisation that I as the leader of ANLCA was invited to their gathering on Wednesday to come and deliver a statement on behalf of our relationship with the Nigeria Customs administration and by middle of May, am leading a delegation to Brussels where World Customs Brokers’ Organization headed by IFCBA will be celebrating 25th anniversary of the existence of the world organization”.
