Freight Monitor

ANLCA seeks speedy digitalisation process of Nigerian ports for enhanced efficiency, revenue generation

The Eyewitness reporter

The High Command of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has enjoined the federal government to speed up the digitalisation process of Nigerian ports that will enhance service delivery, efficiency and revenue generation.

Kayode Farinto, the Acting President of the association, in his goodwill message to all maritime stakeholders on this year’s Maritime day celebration, noted that the theme for this year’s World Maritime Day ” New Technologies for Greener Shipping” is apt as it aligns with the campaign of the ANLCA on port automation and seamless operations.

“For us in ANLCA and in line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) conventions, applying new technologies will simplify port processes, reduce conflicts and corruption and increase Government revenue.

“We however appeal to the Federal government and its agencies operating in the ports to speed up the port digitalization process.

” This, we believe, will reduce conflicts, promote business and make Nigerian ports competitive, and user-friendly, while promoting International trade and investment in the Nigerian maritime sector.

“No doubt the world is going digital with the application of new technologies to boost and facilitate trade.

” Again, the application of new technologies will improve our ease of doing business index and make our ports really a hub and destination in the sub-region ” Farinto admonished.

He however used the platform for the goodwill message to admonish his members on the need to be law abiding and shun any temptation to take the law into their hands despite what he described as provocations arising from the present crisis in the association.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank our members who are law-abiding and salute their determination to stay on the part of the law, despite provocations from certain quarters.

“We want to assure them that this present NECOM will not do anything aside from what is contained in the ANLCA’s supreme constitution no matter the level of provocation, as doing otherwise will result in anarchy.

“I also appeal to our members to be vigilant and not to be disturbed by some insinuations, fake and speculative reports perpetrated by our expelled/aggrieved members on some social media platforms about Police and CRFFN purported blame of NECOM in the settlement process by the two Organisations.

” Again, as usual, that was the handiwork of liars who use unethical practicing media persons in the maritime Industry to deceive the general public for sympathy.

“For the avoidance of doubt, none of the two agencies have finalized their reports and even at that, in the settlement of the matter, the ANLCA’s constitution is the basis, because that is the legal instrument of the association and not what people say or think.

“Once again, I want to appeal to our members to always seek the path of peace and togetherness, even in the course of our differences.

“Let’s shun destruction and bickering and join our efforts together to build a new ANLCA for the betterment of all members”

Farinto also enjoined his members to brace up for the forthcoming NECOM elections of the association, urging them to be more active in the political process of the group.

” I want to urge all our members to reignite their political instincts for the association’s NECOM election coming up soon as the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) will soon open the floor of activities for the next NECOM election.

” Let’s pull our energies towards throwing our hats into the ring to either vote or be voted for, that is the only way a new ANLCA can emerge’, he declared.

Freight Monitor

ANLCA postpones NECOM election to July 5th as ASECO releases fresh guidelines

Nze Aloysius Emeka Igwe, ASECO Chairman, ANLCA

Following the death of the erstwhile chairman of the Association Electoral Commission(ASECO) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents( ANLCA), Mr. Alloy Anukwuru, who died in April 2023, the new Chairman of the electoral body has released a fresh guideline for the much-anticipated election.

In the new electoral timetable released by the new chairman of the eight-man electoral committee, Nze Aloysius Emeka Igwe, whose appointment by the board of the association sequel to the death of Anokwuru, was announced about a week ago, the ANLCA NECOM election will now hold on July 5th, 2023.

This is about less than a two-month extension from the original date of May 25th, 2023 as earlier announced by the electoral body when it was headed by late Anukwuru.

According to the new electoral guideline signed by the new Chairman of ASECO, Emeka Igwe and Alhaji Mustapha Yakubu, the ASECO Secretary, there will be registration of voters at the Western Zone(National Headquarters), Eastern Zone(Onne) and Northern Zone(Abuja) from May 17th -June 2nd, 2023.

Also, the sales of nomination form/letter of intent closes on May 26th, 2023 while the final submission of the original nomination form is slated for between May 26th- 30th, 2023.

Electoral petitions by aggrieved members or participants will be entertained from June 2nd-9th, 2023 while the publication of the aspirants/first provision voters list will be between June 5th -9th, 2023.

The verification and the screening of original documents of voters in the Western Zone hold between June 12th-15th, 2023 while the verification and screening of licenses of voters in the Eastern Zone takes place June 19th -21st, 2023 and that of the Northern Zone takes place between June 22rd-23rd, 2023.

The screening of the aspirants is slated for July 3rd, 2023 while the publication of the final voters and candidate list will also be done on July 3rd, 2023.

The proper election and declaration of results by the returning officer holds on July 5th, 2023, thus ushering in the new executives that will pilot the affairs of the battle-weary ANLCA for a single term of five years.

Freight Monitor

Aftermath of Anokwuru’s death: ANLCA appoints Alloy Igwe as new ASECO chairman

The eyewitness reporter

A few weeks after the death of Alloy Anokwuru, the erstwhile Chairman of the Associations Electoral Committee (ASECO) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA)who died in April, the association has appointed Alloy Chukwuemeka Igwe as a new chairman of ASECO.

Unveiling the new chairman at the National Secretariat of the association, Kayode Farinto, the Acting National President of ANLCA, charged the new chairman to leave above board.

“Don’t collect bribes in your new assignment. You may be blackmailed but you should remain steadfast” he charged the new ASECO chairman.

Farinto disclosed that the appointment of the new electoral body was made and ratified at a combined meeting of the association’s NECOM and BOT, last week Saturday.

“There shouldn’t be a vacuum and that was the reason this appointment had to be made.

While eulogizing the former ASECO chairman, Farinto said the association was equally confident in the ability of the new chairman who has an impeccable pedigree in the association.

He said there was a new dawn in ANLCA as never again will unlicensed members be allowed to lord it over the licensed members.

“If the election is successful, it will herald a rebirth of the association and its lost glory will return” Farinto declared.

He, therefore, charged the new chairman and the electoral committee to sanitize the electoral process in the association for the betterment of the group.

He also admonished ANLCA members to remain united and resolute in the current efforts to rebuild the association.

The board also appointed Mr Sanusi Adebayo Suleiman from the MMA chapter as the eighth member of ASECO.

Mr Aloy Igwe and Suleiman were later sworn in by the Acting National President of ANLCA.

The new chairman promised to deliver on his mandate and expressed gratitude to the association for his appointment.

He however said the old timetable of the NECOM election will have to be amended to reflect the new realities on the ground.

The timetable for the NECOM election drawn by the ASECO before Aloy Anokwuru died shows that the election is supposed to hold May, 25th 2023.

It still remains to be seen if the little disruption caused by the death of the former Chairman will affect the date or not.

Freight Monitor

ANLCA holds NECOM elections May 25th as ASECO releases guidelines

The eyewitness reporter

The much-anticipated elections into the National Executive Council of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) holds on May 25th, 2023.

According to the election timetable released by the Association Electoral Commission(ASECO), a copy of which was sighted by our reporter, the notice of election has been published on April 11, 2023, while the registrations of voters will be conducted by ASECO at the ANLCA national secretariat from April 12th to 28th, 2023.

The guideline, dated April 11th, 2023, also revealed that the electoral committee will entertain letters of intent from interested contestants from April 12th- April 28th, 2023.

Also, nomination forms with elections guidelines will be on sale from April 12th- April 19th, 2023 while the final submission of the original nomination forms and other requirements by aspirants will be on the 27th of April 2023.

Furthermore, the screening of aspirants will take place from May 2nd-May 9th, 2023 while election petitions will be entertained May 10th -18th, 2023.

Also, a provisional list of voters and candidates will be published on May 19th, 2023 while there will be a joint ASECO/BOT/NECOM meeting on May 22nd, 2023 to consider and resolve election petitions.

The final voters and candidates list will be published on May 23rd, 2023.

May 25th, 2023, will be the D-day when the elections will hold and the results declared by the returning officer.

Following the consummation of the peace pact between the two warring parties in ANLCA which ushered in an era of peace in the association that was on the boil for five years, a seven-member electoral body called ASECO, headed by Mr. Alloy Anukwuru, was inaugurated to conduct elections into the association’s NECOM.