‘I’ll Spearhead Charter of Customs Brokerage If…’ – Momoh

  BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

A contestant in the upcoming election of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), High Chief Sunday Atebor Momoh has expressed his desire to lead the effort towards the chartering of the customs brokerage practice in Nigeria, hinting that both practitioners, ANLCA and its members will benefit significantly from the acquisition of such status.

The industrialist and customs broker of note in a media chat with Pinnacle Time said the time has come for people with means and the right connection to get into the board and assist in repositioning ANLCA to give it the voice it once had but was lost due to infighting and shallow, and self serving consideration of some members in leadership position.

Speaking of his dreams and  intentions for the development of ANLCA should he be elected into the BoT, High Chief Momoh said he has the reach and connection to support a holistic plan that will reinvent ANLCA and re-establish it to assume a commanding stature in the industry and beyond.

The Managing Director/CEO of Tara International Limited, a maritime concern, and who also have his fingers deep in the oil and gas, and hospitality industry among others note that those who are called to true service don’t seek to destabilize institutions they contest election to lead, and advised members of the association to be wary of dual face individuals wearing the badge of leaders or democrats.

With the forbearance of a believable and down to earth honest personality, the enthusiastic High Chief Momoh said the reasons he expressed interest in the board membership is also to support any effort to professionalize the customs brokerage practice, institute the culture of true service in the BoT, with the ultimate aim of achieving a harmony between the BoT and the National Executive Committee (NECOM); pursuant to also achieving a united house for the benefit of the majority of ordinary members. Enjoy the conversation: Excerpt:

Can we meet you sir?

I am High Chief Atebor Sunday Momoh, l hail from Edo State, and l am the Managing Director/CEO of Tara International Limited. Apart from customs clearing l am into other businesses, l operate filling stations, hotels among others. I worked with Panalpina, worked with Northern Nigeria Flour Mill, Benjoy Ltd before l embarked on private practice. I have been in the port and customs trade for over 30 years.

With over 30 years industry experience, you have come a long way, how do you intend to translate this experiences for the benefit of the BoT at a time like this when the association is just emerging from a five years crisis.

Fortunately, the dream and desire of how l can support the cause of the association through serving in the board is what propelled me into this contest. I have been a member of ANLCA for a very long time, and have also been closely watching the affairs of the association. I realized that in the recent past, ANLCA has been deviating from its core values of our founding fathers. If you have been around for long, you would have noticed or heard that that singular loss of focus was what caused the crisis we are just coming out from. I also noticed that for a very long time now, we no longer have a strong board that speaks with one voice. If we had a board that had the vision of our founding fathers, the crisis we are talking about wouldn’t have happened because the board is supposed to be conscience of the association; that is the role of the board in every organization. The board parades very committed and selfless people, people who don’t project personal agenda or incentivize trouble. Therefore the board is not supposed to be for everybody, it is for people with self esteem, people with decorum, with distinguished personality, people who are prepared to serve and to make the collective interests their business.

That is why board members everywhere command respect, it shouldn’t be different in ANLCA, and if it is, we need to change the cause and have a board that is focused and deserving of respect. That in a nutshell is why l have decided to contest, we need a post crisis board that will work with one mind not only within itself but also with NECOM to make sure that we reconnect and realize the vision of the founding fathers of ANLCA. With likeminded board members, l will ensure that we are well guided and no crisis erupts and if it happens, we will nip it in the bud before it becomes pronounced. It takes understanding, takes humility and sacrifice and that was l told you earlier that the board is not for everybody.

So far sir, sixteen candidates, you inclusive have expressed interest in contesting the board election with room for nine members, what is your advise for your fellow contestants about maintaining the peace in the event of defeat, which some persons apparently find it  difficult to do.

Well, l have always told people that politics should be treated like sports, so that in the event of losing, you still shake hands with the winner and life goes on. No one is born to win all the time or to loss all the time, sports teaches us all these. A true progressive or democrat will always partner with the winner to work for the interest of all, those who live in bitterness after defeat weren’t actually out to serve, if they were, they will also know that after elections are won and lost, the next is partnership not hostility. A good politician even in defeat will share his vision with the winner and wait for another chance.

If you endure and your vision which you dutifully handover to the winner of an election is realized, you will have a sense of fulfillment and God is never mocked, your time will come. So election victory is not a do or die affair, those who take this course were never out to serve the people in the first place. That is how to identify selfish aspirants who pose as leaders, they will stop at nothing at trying to derail the government in place. If l win fine, if l loss l will accept my fate and move on; that is also my advise for my fellow contestants. So l urge everyone to congratulate the winners, defeat does not stop you from making your contributions to the progress of the association.

I also understand that board members apart from been persons of means are supposed to be well connected. Given your intimidating credentials, can ANLCA look up to you for such support at the right time? I am talking about areas where ANLCA may be weak in getting the right contact to support their efforts with say, issues of unfriendly policies, for instance.

I told you before that my desire to be in the board is to support and help to close this type of gaps you’re talking about. Let me shock you, l was a member of ACN and AC that metamorphosed into APC. I am a card carrying member of APC in Edo State. With all sense of humility l have contributed to making persons become members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Senator Adams Oshiohmole is my friend and is representing my constituency and by extension, he is representing me. I want to tell you that my elder brother, Engr. Abubakar Momoh is the Minister of Niger Delta Commission, today. I have what it takes to reach the government where policy issues affecting our association can be discussed. If elected into the board, l will spearhead the chartering of this our profession, together with my fellow board members. l will lead the way to the national assembly to pursue the chartering of customs brokerage. It is not by my power but wherever we have been having some encumbrances, l think l have the reach, l know where to go to find solution. We need to completely stabilize ANLCA.