‘We’ll Let Importers, Manufacturers Deal With Terminal Service Charge Increment, Henceforth’ Nwokeoji

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

L-R: ANLCA Financial Secretary, Hajia Bola Muse, Former President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Vice President, Prince Segun Oduntan and National President, Emenike Nwokeoji at the leadership retreat in Lagos

The national president of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji has hinted that the association may reconsider its stand on the ongoing dialogue relating to the proposed hike in the fee of handling service charges by terminal operators, as he expressed dismay over the apparent silence of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and importers on the issue.

The ANLCA leader who dropped the bombshell while speaking during a training programme organized for the National Executive Committee (NECOM), committee members and appointees by the association, said the attitude of the importers and manufacturers has been received loud and clear, and disclosed that agents and freight forwarders have also resolved not to cry more than the bereaved.

Meanwhile, the Emenike Nwokeoji, Prince Segun Oduntan (ENSO) presidential campaign restoration mantra has continued to witness significant gains as the association’s heavyweights including two former presidents; Sir Earnest Elochukwu  and Prince Olayiwola Shittu, two patrons, Chief Peter Obi and Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha and several others on Thursday converged at its National Secretariat Amuwo Odofin Lagos for a leadership retreat, cum training programme.

Hajia Bola Muse (left) and Sir Earnest Elochukwu

The ANLCA heavyweights took turns to address the NECOM amd appointed officials on the need to ensure that the newly found peace in the association is sustained through individual and collective hands of fellowship and the promotion of positive nuances, the exchange of the spirit of chivalry and camaraderie at all time.

In his welcome address, Nwokeoji noted that the job they were elected to do in the NECOM should not be misconstrued as a one man’s job, stressing that it is a collective responsibility and requires all hands to be on deck to achieve success.

Speaking on the purpose of the leadership retreat, he said the purpose is to bring appointees and newly elected members abreast of their responsibilities.

“Sometimes when you appoint people from the National, they assume some powers more than what the Constitution allows them to. This retreat is to let them know that there are hierarchies in the course of executing their assignment.

ANLCA patron, Chief Peter Obi (left) and Mr Lekan Salau

“Our expectation is that we want to maintain presence in every aspect of this job, Shipping companies, terminal operators, customs and other security agencies. We are not appointing these officials to go and be overlords, they are not going into the port to line their pockets or lord things over the customs, they are to complement efforts of the chapters and give us reports”, he said.

Also speaking, former National President, Sir Ernest Elochukwu warned that elections are over and re-echoed the evergreen admonition of there been ‘no victor no vanquish’; and said it is time for partnership that should promote total restoration and genuine reunification.

In particular, he charged the members to shun the temptation of creating caucuses within ANLCA, noting it would only engender factional tendencies and create problems and reignite other negative attitudes.

He also reiterated the authority of the NECOM and warned appointees against attempts to usurp the roles of elected officials; but rather to concentrate on supporting the national leadership in achieving its collective goals.

He said, “The appointees and elected officials must preach the gospel of unity and make ANLCA the focal point for interaction in cargo clearance business. ANLCA is the only association in the maritime industry, any other one is a personal venture, this is why ANLCA would always survive any situation, if the association can survive the last five years crisis, it can survive every other thing.”

He commended President Emenike on the appointment of the officials, saying that the appointment cuts across board and reflected the deep desire to restore peace in the association.

“The story of the election has been forgotten, ANLCA is one and we are moving the industry forward. For me, a new dawn is here in ANLCA and we have seen it from the action of the President that he is working for the unification of ANLCA. We all have a role to play, and it is our own best interest for ANLCA to thrive”, he said

Contributing, ANLCA Patron, Chief Peter Obi affirmed the collective conviction for the association to return back to its winning ways, and urged members and all other freight forwarding associations to queue up behind ANLCA as an umbrella body to achieve the common goal for all practitioners.

“There is a new ANLCA and it has come to stay, this is an umbrella body and we have taken back our position, every other thing you see happening outside there is not an association, everyone of them have to queue up under ANLCA.

“My message to all our members is that we need cooperation, we have a very good President, a gentleman, the job is not a bed of roses, we have destroyed ANLCA for five years and it would take us time to rebuild it, this is why all hands must be on deck to reclaim our past glory. There is no victor no vanquish.

“I have paid my dues in ANLCA and l have the interest of the association at heart. Right now, our members are suffering, and this association is the only real umbrella covering everyone going into the port to do any kind of work called freight forwarding”, he said

Obi enjoined the NECOM and appointed officials to embrace members who are still outside tocome on board.

“It is you people that would call those outside for them to come back, those people you think you have defeated, the way you approach them or talk to them would bring them back. Let us be talking about peace and how to unite this association.”

On his part, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi urged anyone still nursing grievances from the bruises of the past five year’s crisis to let go and fit into the present effort of restoration and reunion.

“I thank God for today and I have assured the President that anytime he needs people like us, we would oblige him, whatever he wants us to do in taking ANLCA to the next level, we are ready to do it. However, we must all believe that we are all winners and no losers, the President must bring everyone outside back into the association, everyone of us equally have a role to play” he said

Former National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu while delivering the main lecture took time to educate the officials on their constitutional roles, functions and also outlined the expectations from them.

The attendance which was robust exuding convivial atmosphere has the crème-de-la-crème of the association, including the Vice National President, Prince Segun Oduntan, Mrs Rhoda Akponunu, Chief Ariyo, Sir John Ofobike amongst others.

Asked on the sideline what  the leadership of ANLCA is doing to achieve an acceptable terminal service charge template in view of the planned charge hike and the controversies it has thrown up, Nwokeoji said the association may reconsider its posture in the struggle, accusing the importers and manufacturers of exhibiting unwarranted air of indifference; even as he denied that ANLCA conceded to the 400percent hike said to have emanated from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council meeting with stakeholders.

“During our meeting with STOAN, we didn’t go up to 300, we said 100 percent. You have made two statements,  I want to separate them. You said first of all that there was a meeting by stakeholders at Nigerian Shippers’ Council where we were fully represented and it was agreed. There was no such thing from the report given to me.

“I was in Abuja, that was when we went for the National Economic Summit meeting. My Vice and other leaders were there, from the report I received, there was no such thing. I need to remind you that a day before, the Shippers Council met the terminal operators, they met with them on a Monday and this other meeting was scheduled on a Tuesday. They called me immediately the meeting was over and informed me of what transpired. So what was reeled out to members that day was what they agreed with the terminal operators, there was no input from us.

“I was told that there was no even no position discussion, the Shippers’ Council former boss just walked into the meeting, said good morning ladies and gentlemen, we are sorry, we understand that some people are complaining that the due process was not followed in this. We met with the terminal operators and we have agreed on this. That was the way that meeting went. It’s not as if there was a dialogue; and then because the terminal operators were not in that meeting. They had the meeting a day before, he called only representatives of the associations.”

Responding to what would be ANLCA’s next line of action, he said:

“We are still meeting on that issue. We are being a little bit careful and we are curious, most importantly how come, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Importers Association, Lagos Chamber of Commerce…we have not heard from them. All we are now trying to do is to maybe re-orientate agents.

“Let agents do exactly what it used to be, if you approach me that you want me to clear your goods, no problem. We’ll enter into an agreement. All receipted payments to be made will be borne by the importer. And then you pay me my service charge. So we shouldn’t bother ourselves with how much import duty is, how much terminal service charge is. How come we’ll be doing this battle for them and…

“I know how many times l have flown…and then they are not concerned about it. Can you remind me of where the Lagos Chamber of Commerce as powerful they are, they have a powerful voice, how come they are not saying anything about it? The agents cannot continue, it’s not an agent’s bill, terminal charges is not an agent’s bill. It’s a receipt payment. I will pass it on to the importer.”