ANLCA Crisis: None of our members has joined NAGAFF – National Secretary

Contrary to reports making the rounds that members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) in the eastern zone especially in Onne have move en masse to join the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the National Secretary of ANLCA, Alhaji Abdullazeez Babatunde Mukaila has said that nothing like that happened.

Mukaila who made this disclosure in a chat with our correspondent at the ANLCA national secretariat in Lagos yesterday described the report as “a blatant and very cheap lie.”

He said,” As the custodian of ANLCA register, I have not received notice of any movement talk more of having a mass movement of our members from Onne or any other parts of the eastern ports. I think it is a blatant and very cheap lie. I am aware that I read online that NAGAFF is trying to install a Chairman at Onne, well it is a freedom of association. However, it is on notice and I stand to be quoted that none of our members has joined NAGAFF, to the best of my knowledge. I believe the NAGAFF hierarchy is free to say whatever it wants to say, what is important is that nothing of such has happened, we are hearing that from them and it is a very cheap lie.

“I can tell you clearly that all the notable eastern Excos were at Dim Ogbuagu’s mother burial en masse, they are on tape, there are pictures, there are records to show that they came with fully loaded Coaster Bus, that showed that everything is still intact.”

When reminded that members may  leave the association without bothering to communicate officially to the association through a resignation letter, he said,” Anyone that has moved without following that protocol, basically speaking, that person has not moved and I want them to substantiate those that have moved, they shouldn’t be faceless, they shouldn’t generalize, they should mention a particular company that its principal officer(s) left ANLCA and moved to another association, that is when you can claim that some people are moving.

“I still stand to be corrected; I want to see the list or the names of those ANLCA members at the eastern ports that have left the association for another association. I think it is part of the demarketing strategy and propaganda which we are not ready to partake in.”

He further described as another big lie reports that suggested that members of the association in the eastern zone had refused to remit their dues to the national secretariat but chose to make same to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Henry Njoku saying “, I can go to the extent of showing you evidence of payments from the eastern zone.”

He continued,” You know these are part of the stories that is being peddled around here. Those that refused to pay are those suspended excos in the western zone but they are still surprised that we are still moving on and it is monies from the other chapters; Kano, Abuja, Enugu, Onne, especially Airport too paying their dues. So, it is a blatant lie, another cheap blackmail against the person of the man in question. ANLCA is a well-grounded structured association, nobody is a founder here, therefore, nobody can take over the running of ANLCA and pocket it, it is not possible.”

On the desertion of the national secretariat for fear of the unknown by members of the association, the ANLCA Chief Scribe opines,” Let me be very clear, the constitution of this association said whoever decided to take up a position should know that it is not a paid job. Therefore, nobody is paying anybody salary. However, if you spend your money out of your pocket to deliver in any form anything for ANLCA, of course, you can apply for refund.

“So, if it is not a paid job and we all know that everyone of us have their own offices, it is a departure from what it used to be, I want to agree.it is a different ball game, if there is a designated date, like if you come here on Thursday this week, you are going to see crowd because it is a designated date for a meeting. So, it is a departure from a drinking joint. If turning this place to a club is what they meant when they say that people are afraid of coming to the secretariat, it is not a club; it is not a drinking joint.

“You will recall that during the last administration, there was even a big fridge to house drink, people drink, you see beer everywhere but it is a different ball game. Do whatever you can for ANLCA at a designated time, that is what is playing out, no one is afraid of coming here.”

Send your news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @ptreporters and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.