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Freight Monitor

Cracks in ANLCA’s peace accord widen as Mustapha insists dissolution of NECOM stays.

—- says Farinto lacks moral right to still be in office as Ag. President
The Eyewitness Reporter
The fragile peace accord in the Association of Nigerian Customs Licensed Agents (ANLCA) facilitated by the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarding Practice in Nigeria (CRFFN) after over four years of crisis in the association, may have finally collapsed with the apparent unresolved differences between the two warring parties over the purported dissolution of the association’s National Executive Council (NECOM).
On Thursday, July 13th, 2023, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, the Chairman of the Unified Board of Trustees (BOT) of ANLCA, announced the dissolution of the association’s NECOM and the appointment of a Sole Administrator to take over the affairs of the association for three months pending the time the election would be held.
In a swift reaction, Prince Ozo Chukurah, the Vice Chairman of the unified BOT, issued a counter statement Friday, July 14th, 2023 dismissing the purported dissolution and asking the general public to disregard the action, as there was no time the BOT met to take such decision.
Similarly, Kayode Farinto, the Acting President of ANLCA has declared that Alhaji Musthapha lacked the powers to dissolve the NECOM, saying the National Executive Committee(NEC) which sat on July 12th, 2023, had already granted NECOM additional three months tenure extension, saying the body, as the highest decision- making organ of the association, has overruled Musthapha and his BOT.
However, Mustapha, in a statement issued Saturday, July 15th, 2023, insisted that the decision to dissolve NECOM is irreversible as it was in tandem with the supreme constitution of the association and in the interest of fair play and justice.
In a statement sent to our reporter, Alhaji Mustapha insisted that the dissolution order followed due process and therefore, could not be controverted.
“We stand by our position, but I plead with all to drop our ego and come back to further discussion on the way forward” he declared.
He averred that the continued stay in office of members of the NECOM, especially Kayode Farinto, who is the Acting President and a contestant in the coming NECOM elections, is against morality and natural justice.
 .
In reaction to the claim of Prince Chukurah, Mustapha maintained that the BOT, which has the constitutional powers to dissolve the NECOM, has met to discuss the matter.
He reiterated that he was not sold out on becoming BOT chairman but claimed his action was driven by the desire to enthrone peace, justice and equity in ANLCA.
Mustapha lamented that he had made a lot of sacrifices to ensure that peace reign in ANLCA but regretted that a few individuals with selfish intentions with biases had truncated the efforts in order to actualise their inordinate desire.
The BOT chairman claimed he had put in so much effort and energy to ensure he reins in the aggrieved factional group by dissuading its members from forming a parallel government.
“The issue of NECOM dissolution had been discussed variously at physical meetings and via telephone conversations and the main reservation of few including the Vice Chairman had been the obvious difficulty of BOT members running the secretariat themselves.
” But we have to refer to norms and previous practices where the BOT had to take decisions in the interest of the common good.
” But beyond the puerile arguments of who was and wasn’t consulted, the critical issue is about adhering to the tenets of ANLCA Supreme Constitution as a pathfinder.
” Section 8 (subsection 2a & b) and I quote:
“EXTENSION OF TENURE:
Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the National Executive Council shall have powers to extend its tenure in conjunction with the BOT as follows;
(a) In any case of emergency, for a period not more than 3 months.
(b) In any case of any controversy or deadlock arising from its inability to conduct an election or from an inconclusive election for 6 months only.
” But where the emergency or deadlock persists, the Board of Trustees will step in, dissolve and take over cum appoint Administrator to administer the office for a period not more than 6 months and conduct an election.” end of quote.
“This matter was made explicitly clear during the meeting called on Monday 10th July 2023, hence it would not have required another meeting to implement it.
” Beyond all these arguments,  we should address our minds to the moral issues involved.
”  For instance,  why is it so important that a contestant or contestant in an election should be in office to supervise such election when the tenure has expired?
“Again,  why would people be solely pushing for what suits them without considering the interests and feelings of the other side?
” Let it be known that it has caused me unimaginable energy and emotions persuading the other side to accept the one-year tenure additional and later three months extension of the NECOM simply IN THE INTEREST OF PEACE.
“As a person,  I’ve done so much in dissuading the other side from taking retaliatory steps (such as holding a parallel NEC meeting in Lagos and appointing their own parallel acting president).
“That would have truncated the fragile peace ostensibly in place following the CRFFN intervention.
” We were all living witness to the bloodshed in Tincan. But the actions and disposition of some people including those who should ordinarily be called elders are more of personal emotional relationship with some candidates than encouraging the drive for truth and peace.
” I’ve said it severally that I, Taiwo Mustapha, am not crazy about being in ANLCA BOT or being its chairman but that I feel obligated to use whatever endowment which Almighty Allah has given me to strive for the return of peace to this Association in order to offer protection for our teeming members in the pursuit of their business, and our common heritage.
“Finally, I will not pick words with Ozor Chukwura on any platform against what he has released.
” Conscience is an open wound. As to the choice of Alhaji Abdulazeez, Babatunde Mukaila, his choice was arrived at after extensive consultations even as the opposite side had their misgivings that it’s a continuation of the same Farinto arrangement.
“But we were guided by the fact that beyond being a capable hand,  he isn’t contesting in the coming NECOM election.
“He was ASECO chairman for years without any blemish. If Kayode Farinto is not seeing Mukaila Abdulazeez who has worked closely with him in the last five years as a capable hand to run the National Secretariat for the next few weeks, then something is missing.
“And I also state categorically clear that I, Taiwo Mustapha, is not working against Kayode Farinto.
“In conclusion,  I  call on all true lovers of ANLCA to keep their association in prayers for a quick return of peace to our boisterous Association.
“And also to pray that the recent interest by CUSTOMS CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL which meeting we are scheduled to attend next week will yield a wonderful dividend”
However, all efforts to get reaction of Alhaji Babatunde Mukaila to respond to the conflicting claims of the two warring sides over his choice as the Sole Administrator of ANLCA were frustrated by the taciturn posture of the Secretary-General of ANLCA.
When he picked up his calls after several declined calls, he retorted “No comment”
Not with the question if he was actually consulted or not as being counterclaimed by both gladiators, would make him change his hardline posture.
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Analyses

Dual clearing:The secret racket killing Single Window 

The portals are digital, but the greed remains completely manual.

The Monday Discourse with Nasiru Ibrahim  exposes the ‘Dual Clearing’ racket where manual verification loops completely neutralize the federal government’s National Single Window.

Read how deliberate extortion rings at the terminal gates are killing the ease of doing business and paralyzing Port efficiency.

The full strategic brief drops tomorrow morning!

Stay tuned

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Customs

Opposition mounts against proposed hike in licensing renewal fee by Customs as agents kick

–the timing is wrong  — Amiwero

–the rich will now hijack the clearing job– Musa

— the multinationals will have a field day — Mukaila

– lot of agents will be out of job-Otunba Komolafe 
– the economy will collapse — Barrister Ada Akpunonu 
Funso OLOJO 
There seems to an overwhelming unanimity in the resistance of the Customs Licensed Clearing Agents against the proposed hike in the licensing renewal fee by the Nigeria Customs Service.
On Thursday, August 7th, 2025, the management of the NCS muted the idea of a hike in licensing renewal fee when it was sensitizing the executives of the major freight forwarding groups in Abuja.
The agency told the freight forwarders that commencing from January 1st, 2026, the current renewal fee of N215, 000( 20k for the Headquarters and N15k processing fee for the commands) would be increased as the existing fee was no longer realistic in the face of the economic realities in the country.
However, a cross – section of the practicing customs brokers who spoke to our reporter on the proposed review were unsparing in their total rejection and condemnation of the proposal.
They were unanimous in their belief that the move by the customs authority was not only ill- timed, ill- conceived but it’s capable of sending many practitioners out of the business.
The customs brokers lamented the timing of the proposed hike when, according to them, they are still grappling with the challenges of multiple payment of charges and fees atvtge port.
They pointed out the reintroduction of the 4 percent fee on FOB on imported cargo, the high exchange rate and other taxes which they said are hurting the business.
They further claimed that the proposed hike will give a leeway to the money bags and the foreign multi- nationals to hijack the freight forwarding industry.
Dr Segun Musa, the Deputy National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) accused Customs of gradually turning the issue of licensing into cash and carry for the highest bidders.
He believed that obtaining customs license should be purely knowledge- based and not what should be procured with money.
“To me, I don’t think it’s a welcome development and I’m not subscribing to that” when asked of his reaction to the proposed hike.
“The industry should be more of knowledge-driven and not cash-driven.
I didn’t subscribe to it and definitely I won’t buy into it.
” The reality is not whether the current renewal fee is sustainable or
not sustainable. Ordinarily, we don’t suppose as practitioners, we’re not supposed to pay for license.
“We’re supposed to be registered and licensed based on knowledge.
“It should not be a commercialized thing. A customs licensing is not a commercialized venture, it is not a private venture for profit making.
“They generate revenue for government. But ordinarily, we’re supposed to be registered and licensed based on knowledge to facilitate trade.
” If we allow the financial bullion operators to hijack the industry, then they mess up the whole industry.
“It should be knowledge-driven. It should not be the highest bidder industry.
” It should be integrity platform. It should be knowledge platform, not money
back platform.
“You cannot push people that are trying to establish and advance their business out of the business. You don’t do that.
It’s not fair.
“I’m just waiting for the associations that have met with the CG to come out with there  own resolutions or their own brief before we can start engaging media and telling the media our own personal opinion.
” But definitely, it will not fly.
Alhaji Abdulaziz Mukaila, the former National Secretary Generals of the Association of Nigerian Customs Licensed Agents(ANLCA, was not less critical of the licensing renewal proposal.
” Where do they want us to get the money from? Do they want us to start to tax importers? the ANLCA Chieftain asked rhetorically.
“Are they giving us any subvention?
 Whereas, Customs is taking salary.
They are still taking budget allowance.
” Now they are taking 4 percent cent on FOB on cargo.
” The Customs is giving way to the fraudsters they claimed they wanted to weed out with this hike because the fraudsters will get the license at any amount because they know what they want to do with the license.
*Customs will only succeed in chasing out honest people out of the business, thus paving way to the dubious ones to take over.
“What are  they trying to
achieve?
” To shut the door and bring in foreign multinationals?
“Afterall, the customs now give licenses to the Chinese, Indians and Lebanese.
“With this new hike, these foreigners will now gain full control of the industry” the former ANLCA scribe alleged.
Mr Lucky Eyis Amiwero, the factional President of National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents (NCMDLCA) believed that the proposed hike in licensing fee was ill- time at a time the Customs has just introduced 4 percent Free-on-Board (FOB) on imported cargo.
“I don’t think it is the right time for
them to renew, to increase license fees.
“It is the wrong time because the country is actually faced with a lot of challenges.
“The challenges are, one,exchange rates. A lot of people have lost their job. Even people cannot renew most of their licenses.
“When you look at the license renewal, it is based on the performance.
Many people might renew and after the whole thing,they don’t have any jobs to
do.
“So,I don’t think it is the right time for them because  as the customs was  renewing, is trying to bring
in 4% of FOB and so many charges.
“And this is going to hit the agents, hit the importers, hit the
manufacturers,hit the economy.
“When you increase, many of them cannot even move out from their homes.
The port is not a friendly place. A lot of things that are happening  at the port are not coordinated.
“More than 70% of people have left the port industry.
“So,customs should have reasons and seek opinion of people before they  start to increase.
“That money they are increasing is for their own .
“When the last time they reviewed the whole thing, I was in the forefront.
“The last time it was reviewed from N10,000 to N200,000” Amiwero declared.
Both Barrister Ada Akpunonu and Otunba Olasupo Komolafe of the ANLCA shared  similar sentiments on the issue.
Akpunonu seemed to be carefree about the issue because, according to her, the challenges which agents are facing at the port are overwhelming and frustrating.
She lamented that while the agents were battling with the charges of terminal operators, Customs came with the payment of 4 percent Free-on-Board (FOB) levy and now the hike in licensing fee renewal.
” I don’t want to talk about this issue.
If they like, let them increase, when the economy collapses , we shall all be affected”
” Let the Customs increase, those who have money will renew and those who don’t have will be thrown out of job and the rate of unemployment will increase” Akpunonu said in a tired tone.
Otunba Komolafe described the proposed hike as an additional burden on agents who are already groaning in pains over multiple charges at the port.
” Where do they want us to get money? Do they think we pick money on the ground? ,the ANLCA Chieftain asked rhetorically.
He said some agents may not be able to even utilize their license for a whole years due to lack of job.
He claimed that the hike will throw many out of the job.
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Freight Monitor

Amiwero mocks ANLCA, three other freight forwarding groups over plan not to pay POF.

— describes them as gathering of strange bedfellows 
Funso OLOJO 
The last is yet to be been heard of the intrigues, acrimony and bellyaching that greeted the court judgement which invalidated the payment of the controversial Practitioners Operating Fees (POF)by freight forwarders.
It could be recalled that the factional President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licenced Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Eyis Amiwero, secured a court victory against the payment of the POF by Customs brokers when on May 26th, 2025, Justice D.E Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos delivered a landmark judgment in a suit No Suit No. FHC/CS/765/2018 between NCMDLCA vs. 1. MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, 2. NPA and 3. CRFFN in which he declared the collection of the controversial POF illegal.
However, on Friday, June 18th, 2025, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) led four out of the five freight forwarding groups registered with the Council for the Regulation of freight forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to announce their resolve to enforce the judgment of the Lagos High Court by stopping the payment of POF.
The other associations which allegedly connived with ANLCA to rebel against the  CRFFN included the National Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) and a factional National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA).
But Amiwero, who achieved the hard- won court victory over CRFFN, mocked the gathering of the four other associations, describing them as “strange bedfellows”.
”Just look at the gathering of these strange bedfellows, ganging up together to reap where they did not sow.
“A case of ‘my enemy, who is the enemy of my enemy, is now my friend.’
“When they slept on their rights and were busy fighting over the sharing formula of the POF, they never saw CRFFN action as illegal.
“Where were they when Lucky Amiwero single-handedly pursued the case and secured the judgment?
“Some of them even bashed Amiwero for challenging CRFFN, but now, have gathered to enjoy relief from another man’s struggle.
” Pushed by the frustration of not getting any share as CRFFN said that a Consultant fraudulently swallowed everything, they’ve now latched onto Amiwero’s court judgment, in revenge of those that outsmarted them in the Council’s politics and booties sharing” Amiwero declared in a derisive note.
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), which boycotted the meeting of the “strange bedfellows”, also dismissed the group as ” selfish and untrustworthy”
“The above ugly remarks by Mr. Lucky Eyis Amiwero concerning these individuals clearly portray them as untrustworthy and confused persons.
” They can best be described as a bunch of dribblers and directionless folks.
” We have waited to hear their reaction to these highly uncomplimentary remarks but discovered they lacked the wisdom to decode the weighty nature and the implications of Mr. Lucky’s comments, which completely smeared and eroded their credibility and made them interlopers in the industry” NAGAFF High Command declared.
NAGAFF, which reacted through its Board of Trustees (BOT)to the plan of the other registered freight forwarders over their plan to stop payment of the POF, has called in the CRFFN to deregister these rebellious groups while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, should use legal instrument to ensure that the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) withdraw their Certificate of Registration.
NAGAFF claimed these  punitive measures became necessary because the group has committed economic sabotage against the Federal government by denying the government it’s revenue through their refusal to pay the POF.
“The Hon. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E Adegboyega Oyetola, is being encouraged to deregister forthwith the four ailing associations and move on to recommend to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to withdraw their certificates of registration based on threats to revenue due to government of the federation”, stated NAGAFF.
The association however believed that government should allow Amiwero and his group to exit the CRFFN platform in order to give peace a chance so that the CRFFN could collect the POF unhindered.
“The authorities should allow the factional President of NCMDLCA, Mr. Lucky Eyis Amiwero’s group and their accomplices to go as they wish and allow the CRFFN to face its mandate as provided by law.
“We are convinced that the CRFFN will stabilize and be more focused if these elements are granted their request to exit.
“We suspect that this group is being sponsored by the enemies of the state who are hell-bent on sabotaging the good efforts of the government.
“One of the worst crimes anyone can commit against the state is to deny the government its statutory revenue
” The antecedents of these groups in question had already portrayed them as non-progressive minds whose activities in the ports need to be watched” NAGAFF stated.
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