ANLCA Kickstarts 72nd Anniversary With Table Tennis Tournament

BY KESIENNA SHEPHERDS

The 72-Years Anniversary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) is gaining momentum as the ‘Not Bad Sport Arena’ has come out with the fixtures for the novelty table tennis tournament which forms part of the much-anticipated celebration.

The ANLCA 72-years Anniversary celebration is expected to kick-off on Sunday 27th of September 2026 with the Table tennis tournament holding at the Not Bad Sport Arena, Gowon Estate, Egbada by 12noon.

According to the schedules for the tournament, the Tin Can Island Port chapter is expected to play against Kano Chapter in the first rounds, while PTML is playing against Ibeto chapter. Apapa chapter is expected to play against Onne Chapter while Lekki Port chapter would be facing Onne Oil and Gas chapter.

Also, Ikorodu chapter would face Enugu chapter, while Port Harcourt Area would be playing against Calabar Port chapter. The Abuja chapter is expected to dig it out with Idiroko chapter as the two airport chapters; Port Harcourt Airport chapter would face the Murtala Muhammed Airport chapter Lagos. Finally, The Seme border chapter is expected to tackle bats with the KLT chapter.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the event and Vice President of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan has urged members of ANLCA from all chapters, friends, well wishes, and business partners to troop out enmass to witness the sporting activity which would be followed with merriment.

Speaking with maritime journalists in Lagos, Prince Oduntan said “ANLCA will be 72 on September 29th, and part of activity lined up for the day is a table tennis tournament that will be coming up on the 27th.

​”We want to put the sport activity in place so that we can create increased level of bonding among our members. So, we have chosen one person to come from each chapter, at least they can be fly down here to Lagos and we can sit down in a conducive atmosphere, we relax after the games, we share thoughts, we banter, we laugh, everybody will eat together”

​Oduntan explained further that after the tournament, the association, the association will hold a Remembrance Day for members that have passed away and to also fete the less privileged, and the widows. According to him, the ANLCA President, Emenike Nwokeoji is expected to be on ground to share some palliatives to some members that might be in need.

“Depending on our pause, we will make sure that it goes around the four zones in our country, the East, the West, the North and the South” he assured.

Also speaking, the Sub- Committee Chairman Media and publicity, who also doubles as the chairman for the Table Tennis tournament, Emmanuel Onyeme said all is set for the tournament, which will kick off at 12noon at the Not Bad Sport Arena at Gowon Estate, Egbeda area of Lagos State.

Onyeme who is also the National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA further assured participants that the association has made necessary preparations for a hitch free tournament and urge all participants to gear up towards a beautiful outing.

He added that the grand finale of the ANLCA 72 years anniversary celebration is expected to hold on Tuesday, 29th September, 2026 at Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, from 9am to 9pm.

The grand finale is expected to attract key personalities and organisations. According to Prince Odutan, “We are going to have two sessions. After the morning session, we have a break. We now have our gala night where some people who have helped the association or who have served the association in one form or the other will have to be recognized.

​”We expect to see the people we have worked with at this event, you are going to see our bankers, you are going to see other industry giants. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi is our special guest of honor.

“One of our former presidents, Peter Okocha is the chairman of the day, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Dr Abubakar Dantsoho is coming, the Chairman of Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) Dr Zaach Adedeji is also coming”, he said.

Others expected at the anniversary celebration is Olori Vicky Haastrup, the Chairperson of ENL Terminal, industry stakeholders, ship owners among others.