Foremost Chairmanship candidate for the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, KLT chapter in the forthcoming Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA chapter election, Alhaji Olajide Ahmed Bello, yesterday, flagged off his electioneering campaign with the unveiling of a 7 point agenda to revitalize the chapter and reposition it for growth.
The event which witnessed the presence of the major stakeholders in the chapter including the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, the Police, terminal operators, Oodua People’s Congress, OPC and Traditional Rulers also paraded the past and present leaders of the chapter including a National Patron of ANLCA, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners, ASIMPIN, Oodua Maritime Forum among others.
Unveiling his 7 point agenda for the chapter, the Chairmanship hopeful, Bello pledged to ensure transparency in all chapter dealings, providing members with clear, accessible information about decisions, financials and procedures.
He promised to advocate for frequent, high quality training sessions to update members on the latest customs regulations, technology and best practices even as he aimed to strengthen the chapter’s network by fostering partnerships with terminal operators, shipping lines and other logistics stakeholders to enhance service delivery and reduce members’ cost.
He assured members of establishing a support service or help line for those facing challenges with customs documentation or legal issues and provide expert advice and assistance where needed.
While promising to promote diversity within the chapter, encouraging younger professionals, women and underrepresented groups to join and take leadership roles, he also pledged to provide mechanisms for mediation and conflict resolution among members to maintain harmony and cooperation.
Bello further pledged to implement a robust system for member feedback on association activities, ensuring that the chapter evolved based on the needs and suggestions of its members.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Sole Administrator of ANLCA, KLT chapter, Alhaji Kehinde Alata observed that by his position as the Sole Administrator of the chapter, he was not supposed to identify with or praise any particular candidate while stating that his administration was to revive the chapter for the incoming executive to expand and grow it.
He said, “The last time we had the best of administration here was during the time of Bio-Bio and Bayo Oyekangun. But I assure you that with what we have put on ground, it’s going to be a better place and all our terminals will be full. I can assure you that in the next dispensation, be rest assured that KLT will be a port of destination for the arrival of cargoes coming in.”
On his part, a former Chairman of the chapter, Bayo Oyekangun reiterated that after his tenure and that of Bio-Bio, this would be another time they would be having that kind of gathering in KLT, describing it as a new dawn!
Acknowledging that he never knew Bello before this time, he however, disclosed that he asked him some relevant questions to ascertain his preparedness for the job he’s gunning for, saying, “before you can stand up to be a leader, then, you must feel the pains of the people you are coming to lead.”
He continued, “If you don’t feel their pain, you cannot lead them because you don’t know what or how they are feeling. But when you know how they are feeling, the issues they are having with customs, you will have the impact and then, you will know that where I am going, I am going to work.
“It’s not a matter of yes, I want to be an executive member of ANLCA, go there, make sure that the people feel your impact when you were there. I want to let AMLAT and his team to know that you have a great task ahead of you with customs, shipping companies, terminal operators, police, SSS and other units. Don’t believe, if we are elected today, that is the end.
“Make sure that you are there to serve the people. You must create time for the members of ANLCA, those who voted you in as well as those who did not vote for you. You are executive for everybody, not for singular person, not for Oodua, not for Igbo, not for Arewa but for everybody.”
Contributing, the team leader of AMLAT Campaign Organization, Bolaji Bilesanmi revealed that the organization was established by Alhaji Olajide Ahmed Bello for two purposes namely; to work with the progressives in ANLCA for the BOT Election, which according to him had been achieved and to make sure that Alhaji Olajide ‘s aspiration was achieved.
Informing that they discovered that they could work with Bello after going through his blueprints, Bilesanmi said, “I want to tell this house that those who are coming in as the executive are bonafide ANLCA members, all the aspirants are from KLT. Among the aspirants, we have a legal practitioner who major in maritime law. We have an accountant and we have a logistics personnel. Then we have four agents, grassroot agents that are here coming in as executive.
“In the meantime, I want to let the house know that Alhaji Olajide is a core agent in this chapter. He is an importer and he knows where it pinches when it comes to clearing. He is on ground here, we have been monitoring him and all his activities and we pray that by the grace of God, God will give us all that we asked for.”
Highlight of the campaign flag off was the endorsement of Alhaji Olajide Ahmed Bello and his team as the incoming executive of ANLCA, KLT chapter by the President of Oodua Maritime Forum, Chief Oye Ariyo assisted by the Akogun of Ojora Kingdom who represented the Oba of Ojora Kingdom at the event.
Photo: Akogun of Ojora/Apapa land (left) endorsing Alhaji Olajide Ahmed Bello as the Oodua Maritime Forum’s preferred candidate for ANLCA KLT chapter Chairman in the forthcoming ANLCA chapter election.
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