The National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Sir Emenike Nwokeoji has called on members of the association to unite and come together to chart a new course of relevance for the association, for the benefit of her long-suffering members, for Nigeria and for humanity’s sake.
Nwokeoji who made this call during his speech at the inauguration of the newly elected National Executive Committee, NECOM of the association in Lagos on Thursday, observed that the call became more pertinent now than ever as the association recently emerged from her over five years of misunderstanding which according to him, was unnecessary and avoidable.
Noting that the NECOM election of 7th September, 2023 which took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos marked the end of over five years of unnecessary and avoidable conflict in ANLCA, the National President maintained that the NECOM election was lost by both contending parties but won by all ANLCA members.
According to him, “The victory belongs to all of us. Building on our Restoration mantra, we have done so much within such a short period in stabilizing the peace of our great association. Peace and Unity are more paramount now than ever before.
“After years of doldrums, we should avoid divisions and work in harmony to collectively project our common heritage before others, particularly, foreigners will shove us behind Once again, let’s join hands with sister associations, we should come together, unite to rescue our profession from outsiders masquerading as either clearing agents or customs brokers before it is too late.”
He, however, sought the support of all the association’s “mutual and common stakeholders” in the pursuit of a mutually beneficial collaboration and partnership in the arduous but not impossible task of leading ANLCA back to both national and international reckoning.
“We intend to hereafter, reach out to all stakeholders to synergize on issues bothering on the advancement of the maritime and aviation industries and in fact, our national policy issues as it affects our subsectors, in order to present a formidable and common front”, he assured.
Appreciating members of the association for their resilience, perseverance, understanding and patience during the crisis so much that they never fall for the cajoling of other associations to join them by departing from ANLCA, he also said, “To my Vice President, Prince Segun Oduntan, you have remain a reliable, dependable and trusted ally. And for the women in ANLCA, I cannot thank you less, you deserve my special accolades at this outing. At the appropriate time, you will hear from me.”
“I sincerely send my heartfelt appreciation to my dear wife, Dr. Mrs. Ijeoma Nwokeoji and the entire Nwokeoji family for their support and understanding for the past years that I have devoted my time and resources to the courses of ANLCA.
“Immense gratitude must go to the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN for kick-starting the reconciliation process in ANLCA early this year. In the like manner, the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR for solidifying the reconciliation process on the 15th of July in Abuja through the Customs Consultative Committee, CCC under the able leadership of Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju.
“ANLCA shall continue to be grateful for the role played by these individuals and institutions by passing a reconciled, newer ANLCA. Most specially and in a unique way, my thank goes to the ANLCA Board of Trustees led by my good friend and brother, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and Prince Ozo Chukwura, Chief Elochukwu, Dennis Okafor, Chief Dayo Azeez and others for your resoluteness, commitment, steadfastness in ensuring that all parties were carried along during and after the process. This earned you the confidence, trust and respect of all which enabled you to deliver the most widely acclaimed credible election in the history of almost 70 years of ANLCA even under tensed atmosphere.
“Completing this onerous task to the satisfaction and acceptance of all ANLCA members, contestants and all maritime stakeholders is not a mean feat. And to my former boss, Prince Olayiwola Shittu whose support has been total, I remain eternally grateful. Sincere gratitude to my campaign DG, Chief Sir John Ofobike, Dankatsina and the entire team that midwived this victory.
“The event of today is meant to once again inform the general public and particularly the stakeholders that ANLCA is fully back in the comity of associations in the maritime industry to take its rightful position as the Numero uno customs brokerage/freight forwarding association in Nigeria especially an internationally”, he added.
Photo: (L-R): Mr. Olumide Fakanlu, National Secretary, ANLCA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, former Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Sir Emenike Nwokeoji, National President, ANLCA and ACG Jibo, Customs Zonal Coordinator, Zone A during the inauguration of the new ANLCA NECOM in Lagos today.
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