ANLCA’s 72nd Anniversary: NECOM Reels Out Programme, Says Peace Worth Celebrating

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

Members of the Prince Oduntan led LOC, including NFS, Hajia Muse and NPS, Onyeme, during the briefing, Monday, in Lagos.

Upbeat about its forthcoming 72nd anniversary, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has unveiled a three-day programme of activities for the celebration, saying the return of peace and stability to the association in the last couple of years provides sufficient reason to celebrate.

Group photograph of the expanded LOC and other key members of ANLCA involved in the planning, after the briefing.

The anniversary, billed for September 27-29, 2026, will also provide an opportunity for members, stakeholders and past leaders to reflect on the association’s journey, its contributions to the freight forwarding industry and its renewed commitment to internal democracy and unity.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Prince Segun Oduntan, who disclosed this at a press briefing at the association’s National Secretariat, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, said although peace and stability are priceless, their impact is infinite and remains difficult to quantify.

According to him, peace and stability create the environment in which individuals and organisations are able to measure targets, performance and progress.

Oduntan, who is also Vice President of ANLCA, explained that the decision to celebrate the 72nd anniversary was informed by the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the association, its growing internal democracy and the resolve of members to consolidate the gains already made.

He said the celebration would commence on Sunday, September 27, with a Table Tennis Tournament, while Monday, September 28, has been designated as Remembrance Day.

He explained that Remembrance Day was deliberately set aside to honour the memories of deceased members of the association, as well as provide an opportunity for the national leadership, led by National President, Mr. Emenike Kingsley Nwokeoji, to reach out to less-privileged members.

According to him, the less-privileged outreach programme is expected to be extended to all the zones to ensure wider coverage and greater impact.

The grand finale, he disclosed, will take place at the prestigious Marriott Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, September 29. Oduntan explained that the final day would be divided into morning and evening sessions, running from 9am to 9pm, with a Gala Nite bringing the three-day anniversary celebration to a close.

Speaking further, the LOC chairman disclosed that the last anniversary celebration held by ANLCA was its 60th anniversary, organised 12 years ago under the leadership of former National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu.

He stressed that ANLCA had every reason to mark its anniversary at this point in its history, noting that there was nothing wrong with an organisation choosing to celebrate annually or at any other agreed interval, provided gratitude and peace remained the underlying considerations.

“Life is worth celebrating either on yearly basis or at such an interval a group like ANLCA chooses to celebrate. When we celebrate, we are expressing gratitude for standing out, for being counted worthy, for holding our place, for impact and for the return of peace and stability after the unfortunate interval of crisis that ANLCA has emerged from,” he said.

He added that the anniversary was also an opportunity to demonstrate that the association had overcome its internal weaknesses and deliberately chosen peace over division.

“This anniversary celebration is in part to shame the devil that we have overcome our weaknesses, have looked back and decided to choose peace instead of continuing on the path of chaos. ANLCA of a decade ago is not the ANLCA of today; we have made progress on many fronts.

“Today, ANLCA has rebranded significantly. ANLCA has reclaimed its leading position in the industry, not only as the biggest and the oldest, but also as the leading professional group, with huge impact and reach.

“Today, to the glory of God, ANLCA gets involved in all policy planning and developments. ANLCA is licensed by the Nigeria Customs Service and is closely working with Customs to realise government economic and fiscal plans,” he said.

Oduntan also disclosed that awards and honours would form part of the anniversary programme, explaining that the recognitions were reserved for non-members of the association who had distinguished themselves in specific or general areas of assessment.

Fielding questions from journalists, he explained that the lineup of invited guests reflected the totality of the maritime and port industry. Among the VIPs expected at the event, he said, are the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD; Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji; Chairperson of the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup; and Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.

Dantsoho is expected to speak on infrastructure development at the port. Also expected are the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah; chief executives of other relevant government agencies; captains of industry; sister freight forwarding associations; industry managers and technocrats.

Past leaders and elders of ANLCA are equally expected to grace the occasion, with invitations said to have already been extended to all of them.

Those specifically expected to attend include former National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu; Alhaji Mohammed Inua; Senator Sanni Kamba; Sir (Chief) Ernest Elochukwu; and Chief James Idornigie.

According to the LOC, while one time National President of the association, Chief Peter Eloka Okocha is listed to Chair the event, Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, PhD is Distinguished Guest of Honour, with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho as Keynote Speaker.

Also, while the Chairman/CEO Nigeria Revenue Service, Dr, Zacch Adedeji will function as Special Guest of Honour, followed by ENL CEO, Princess Vikky Haastrup  as Guest of Honour; with National President of ANLCA, Nwokeoji as Chief Host.

The LOC chairman also disclosed that the anniversary committee has a spread across all the zones, with all chapter chairmen serving as members.

Those present at the press briefing included the Western Zone Secretary; National Financial Secretary, Hajia Bola Muse; National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Onyeme; and the Chapter Chairmen of Apapa and Tin Can Island, Emeka Chukwumalu and Wale Cole, respectively, among others.