By Anne EJuka
Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), has concluded plans for its Compliance team to work with the 100 percent Compliance team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in a synergy to monitor activities in the cargo clearing and logistics chain in Nigeria.
This information was contained in a statement signed by the president of ANLCA, Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike.
The statement reads in parts, ”This initiative becomes imperative for both groups to share intelligence and vital information in order to check the excesses of agencies of saddled with the statutory duties of cargo clearance at the seaports, airports and land borders".
Nwabunike said, “The current leadership of ANLCA believes strongly in unity of purpose in moving the Custom Brokerage/Freight forwarding sub-sector forward for the greater good of all members". He added, “As such, ANLCA is working tirelessly to promote synergy among all Custom Brokers & freight forwarders in the industry".
Continuing, “For us as Customs Brokers/Freight Forwarders to achieve tangible growth in the sector we invest so much in, we must speak with one voice". The ANLCA boss stated.
“This is the time to work as one big family to achieve our common goal of repositioning the sector in line with ease of doing business formulated by the Federal Government of Nigeria".
Nwabunike stated that ANLCA’s Compliance team will work hand-in-hand with NAGAFF or any other Association’s Compliance committee to checkmate bottlenecks and accesses of government agencies impeding trade facilitation in the maritime industry.
Nwabunike frowned at a situation where multiple alerts from various Customs units, even waylaying of Containers that have been released and existed at ports by the Customs Federal Operations Unit (FOU), the Strike-Force and even Police officers is totally unacceptable, adding that "This is an aspect we have to address together as a matter of urgency".
Nwabunike asserted, “So, the two or other Compliance Teams will exchange ideas, monitor activities in the industry, as they work together to achieve the same purpose for various members of their own Associations