Freight Monitor

Fresh crisis brews in ANLCA

Emenike, ANLCA President

—as angry members walk out of NEC meeting over imposition of strange characters on ASECO.

— aggrieved members may seek redress in court— Ozo Chukwura

The Eyewitness Reporter

The fragile peace that has existed in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) since the eight months administration of Chief Emenike Nwekeoji, the National President of the association, may be ruptured and return the war-weary group to a resurgence of fresh crisis.

Ironically, the unilateral decisions made by Chief Emenike at the recently held National Executive Committee (NEC)meeting of the association have sparked outrage and may return the aggrieved members to the trenches.

It could be recalled that the President of ANLCA, Chief Emenke, had called the NEC meeting of the association on April 26th, 2024 to discuss two matters listed on the agenda, which included the reconstitution of the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) after the unceremonious resignation of its Chairman, Chief Alloy Eze and election into the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the association.

However, Prince Ozo Chukwura, the Vice Chairman of the association’s BOT, who was present at the meeting, told our reporter that the NEC meeting was stalemated.

“The meeting was inconclusive. It was stalemated as aggrieved members walked out in anger over the unilateral decision of Emenike to bring in two unqualified members and impose them on ASECO as members against the wish of BOT members and other attendees” Prince Ozo Chukwura disclosed.

According to him, the sign that Emenike had a hidden agenda first emerged when the meeting, which was slated for 1 0’clock didn’t start until around 4: 25 pm as some members, who had gone to have another clandestine meeting elsewhere came in late and briefed the president before the NEC meeting started.

“After a long epistle of a welcome address in which he tried to prepare the minds of those in attendance for his hidden agenda, Emenike announced the names of two strange characters who by no means are not qualified as members of ASECO to join the original six members.”

” We all in unison rejected the choice and objected to the strange practice by Mr. President as the supreme constitution of ANLCA only empowers the BOT members to appoint ASECO members and submit their names to NEC and not NECOM for ratification”

” The BOT derives this power from section 13 of the 2013 constitution of the association.

” We were therefore surprised at the decision of the President to appoint ASECO members.” But Emenike told us he derived his powers to set up ASECO members from section 25 of the 2013 constitution.

“This was where the confusion started because we pointed out to him that the section he relied on only empowers him to “set up” and not to “appoint”.

“We educated him that from time immemorial, it was the BOT that appoints ASECO members and submits to NEC for ratification.

” We also pointed it out to him that the power to “appoint” is more powerful and supersedes the power to ”set up” which he derives from section 25.

” However, he insisted and maintained its position to bring in these two strange characters who he apparently wanted to do his biddings as ASECO members.”Curiously, he wanted to make one of them, one Francis Itua, who clearly did not qualify as his practicing licence is not more than four months as against the stipulated five to 10 years, to become the chairman of the ASECO while the second person, Abayomi Ajibola, whom I didn’t recognize, is slated for the position of Secretary.

“However, in order to give peace a chance, we gave the President option B, which was to retain the former six members without bringing in other persons while he was given the opportunity of appointing the chairman and secretary among them”

” But Emenike rejected this option, insisting on bringing in these two stooges of his to ASECO.

” At this point, the secretary of ANLCA, Mr Olumide Fakanlu, asked the President to overrule the NEC and imposed his stooges on ASECO.

” True to the advice of his Secretary, Emenike pointedly announced that he has overruled NEC and that his decision to bring in his stooges stays.

“This was despite the vehement protest of the Chairman of the Western Zone, Mr Femi Anifowose.” At this point, most attendees, including myself, walked out of the venue of the meeting, surprised at the despotic attitude of the President.

Prince Ozo Chukwura however warned about the impending implosion of the association if the President does not rescind some of his unilateral decisions, including the one he made on the reconstitution of ASECO and his unilateral decision to dissolve the legally constituted Executive Council at Murtala Mohammed Airport chapter of the Association.

” I distance myself from the unilateral decisions of Mr President which to me is a recipe for anarchy and chaos in the association.”If not rescinded, it could lead to a resurgence of litigations by aggrieved members who are at liberty to approach the courts to seek redress” the ANLCA chieftain warned.

Prince Chukwura bemoaned the arrogant attitude of Emenike since he emerged in what he described as highly compromised election as he behaves like a demi-god.

He raised the alarm that the administration of Emenike has jettisoned the role and conditions of peace facilitated by the Customs Consultative Council(CCC) which helped to broker peace that gave way to the election that brought him in as President.

He revealed that they went as far as reporting the CCC to the CGC.

Goaded by Chief Elochukwu who said that the association has no need for CCC again as they can no longer dictate to them, the Emenike Nwekeoji-led administration has completely desecrated the terms and conditions of the peace deal brokered by the CCC.”

” During the peace arrangement facilitated by the CCC, it was agreed that since the Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha -faction has taken the chairmanship of the BOT, the presidency should be zoned to the Farinto faction.

“But they quickly brought in Emenike from nowhere to contest the election against our candidate and he won.

“The CCC also said that after the NECOM election, the BOT election should be conducted within a month before the chapter elections.

“All these were kept in the breach after Emenike became the President.

“We allow this breach of agreement to slide for peace’s sake.”Also, it was decided that ASECO should be constituted with eight members, four from each faction while the Farinto faction should produce the chairman.

“No sooner did Alloy Anakwuru become the chairman, than he died.

“Our replacement in the person of Emeka Igwe was eventually frustrated to resign.”He was never allowed to work as a series of allegations and accusations were thrown at him until he was forced to resign.

“Now, Emenike and his group wanted to impose their stooges on ASECO, made them chairman and secretary respectively to do their bidding in the BOT and chapter elections coming up.

“This is the bone of contention and a sure way to return the association to the much-avoided crisis” Prince Ozo Chukwura disclosed.” We have overlooked so much of their excesses and desecration of the peace agreement to allow peace to reign.

“During the NECOM election, they doctored and padded the voters register with strange names, including those who do not qualify or have valid licenses and allowed them to vote.

“They went as far as including the Ijora chapter that is dead and brought in people under the dead chapter to vote.

“They allowed people who were not qualified to vote, people who have not contributed anything to the association, they were given a waiver to vote while our people were disenfranchised.”Though we protested, the CCC asked us to give peace a chance and we did.

“But now they want to overreach themselves and reopen the old wounds which we shall revisit if need be” the ANLCA chieftain warned.

He also lamented that all his entreaties to the ANLCA President to reconcile all the aggrieved members were ignored. Prince Ozo Chukwura however advised Emenike and his lieutenants to work towards peace in ANLCA as his current action is capable of flitering away the little gains achieved during the period of fragile peace in the association.

Freight Monitor

APFFLON: A clout chaser in maritime industry?

Funso OLOJO

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has gradually turned itself into an “attack dog’ in the maritime industry.

Established about 10 years ago, the association has consistently turned itself into an “opposition party” to other registered associations recognized by the Council of Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), working at cross purposes with the registered groups.

The CRFFN is the regulatory agency of government which regulates the activities and operations in the freight forwarding industry in Nigeria.

For individuals, corporate bodies and freight forwarding groups to operate legitimately in the industry, they must be registered with the CRFFN.

So any individual, corporate body and freight forwarding group which is not recognized and registered with the CRFFN is deemed to be operating illegally in the freight forwarding industry in Nigeria.

Enquiries made at the CRFFN showed that five freight forwarding Associations were fully recognized and registered by the industry’s regulatory body.

They include Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators(NAFFAC) and Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria(AREFF).

APFFLON was conspicuously missing on the registration book of the CRFFN.

It was gathered that attempts by the association to get registered with CRFFN over the years have failed due to the yarning gaps discovered in the registration requirements presented by the association.

To put it bluntly and succinctly, APFFLON is not a registered freight forwarding group with the CRFFN but has continued to operate in breach of the statutory requirements of the regulatory agency.

This make its operations illegal and contrary to the provisions of the law establishing CRFFN.

Curiously, the unregistered body has been more vocal and hysterical about issues and events in the industry.

Sources claimed that the leadership of the group have become frustrated by their series of failed attempts to get registered with the CRFFN, hence the determination and resolve to oppose anything that other registered associations agreed on.

On several occasions, APFFLON has make it a duty to work at cross purposes with other registered associations in its bid to vent its frustration of not being registered and forcefully thrust itself into reckoning.

A case in point is the controversial tariff hike by the West African Containers Terminal(WACT), Onne.

Following the orchestrated opposition to the increment spearheaded by APFFLON, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council came out with an official reaction to the development.

According to the industry’s economic regulator, based on its interaction with the Onne terminal operator, all the relevant stakeholders, especially the freight forwarders through their associations, were adequately consulted and sensitised over the tariff increase.

Associations like ANLCA,NAGAFF, AREFF ,ARFFN and Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents were all consulted.

Despite the status of APFFLON as non- registered association, the management of WACT still reached out to the group to get an introductory letter from CRFFN, as a regulatory agency, in order to be part of the engagement process.

However, APFFLON could not muster enough courage to approach CRFFN for such referral.

On what basis?

Rather than acknowledge its shortcomings and eat the humble pie, APFFLON went to town with wrong narratives to deceive the freight forwarding community and whip up public sentiments against the Shippers’ Council and WACT, saying the group was not invited to be part of the engagement process.

“According to WACT, prior to the implementation of the new tariff structure, WACT engaged extensively

with the leadership of registered clearing agents in Onne, including the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the
Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (ARFFN), and the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents.”

“The discussions led to a mutual agreement that the implementation would be phased to ease the impact on port users” explained the NSC.

“According to WACT, APFFLON has, for two years,failed to obtain an introductory letter from the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), which is a prerequisite for recognition as an agent.

“As such, their inability to participate in the stakeholder engagement process was due to their own non-compliance with regulatory requirements and not an act of exclusion by WACT” the Council further disclosed.

Despite this clarification made by the Council, APFFLON continued with its propaganda to twist the narrative and distort facts surrounding the issue.

Like a bull in the China’s shop, APFFLON has continued to use the media to bully the NSC, further exposing its frustration for not being factored in by WACT in the negotiation and engagement process.

Rather that dissipate its lean resources on an inordinate campaign of calumny against the industry’s regulatory agency, APFFLON should focus its energy on how to perfect its flawed registration with the CRFFN so that its voice could be respected and action legal in the eye of the law.

Even though there is freedom of association as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, the premise on which the group normally bases its instrusive activities, it however doesn’t distract from the fact that the association is acting in the breach of the industry law as enshrined in CRFFN provisions.

Before APFFLON perfects its registration with the regulatory agency in the freight forwarding industry, its action will continue to attract opprobrium

from deserning industry operators who regard its confrontational approach to issues as a sign of frustration and an act of clout- chasing to curry government recognition and patronage.

Freight Monitor

Ozo Chukwurah preaches peace in ANLCA

— praises efforts of Emenike, Farinto, Ipariola, Abdullaziz, Oforbike , Obiora,Okafor in keeping ANLCA together.

— crowns Wale Cole the new ‘governor’ of Tin Can chapter

Funso OLOJO

In what appears to the a new dawn of peace in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA), the erswhile Vice- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association, Prince Ozo Chukwurah, have praised the current sanity in the hitherto polarized freight forwarders union.

Prince Chukwurah, in an exclusive interview with our reporter, eulogized the efforts of certain individuals for their efforts , commitment and sacrifice that have resulted to the present peace in the ANLCA.

Specifically, he singled out the National President of the association, Mr Nwokeji Emenike for his exemplary leadership,acumen and political sagacity in bringing back the ANLCA from the precipice.

The former Chairman of the Western Zone of the association also praised the sacrifices of Kayode Farinto,the former Acting National President of ANLCA, Alhaji Mukaila Abdullaziz, the former Secretary and later Sole Administrator of the Association, Mr Eniola Ipariola (Anyman), John Oforbike and Obiora Elochukwu which he said has helped to heal the wound inflicted by the years of intractable crisis which rocked the ANLCA to its foundation.

He also shared a kind word for Mr Dennis Oka for(Akataka).

” I want to congratulate Emenike Nwokeji, the National President for keeping the ANLCA together.

” He met a disunited and divided association from the BOT to all the members.

” He was able to stand and weathered the storm and restore peace and harmony to the association.

” I salute his courage and leadership qualities.

” My special recognition to some individuals for their roles in making ANLCA great again.

” In our BOT election, some of these people were humiliated, disenfranchised, yet they stayed in the association.

” People like Kayode Farinto, Eniola Ipariola (Anyman), Mukaila Abdullaziz.

Despite the treatment meted out to them, they still remain in the association,

I salute their sacrifice.

” I must not fail to mention the role of John Oforbike for being strong and steadfast in his love and commitment to ANLCA

” I will also like to recognize an independent mind, a strong but highly underrated individual in the person of Obiora Elochukwu, the present of Chairman of the Association Electorial Commission(ASECO).

” He surprised and exceeded the expectations of everyone in his handling of the chapter elections.

” He should be allowed to conclude the Apapa chapter elections.”

” My greatest and highest recognition goes to Prince Wale Cole, the elected chairman of the Tin Can Island chapter.

” I hereby relinquishes my title” the Governor ” and given it to Prince Wale Cole.

” Henceforth, he is to be known and referred to as the ” Governor” of Tin Can Island chapter of ANLCA.

” He is the new Sheriff in town.

On the conduct of the chapter elections and his expectations, Prince Ozo Chukwura said;

” Am appealing to the Board of Trustees (BOT) and all ANLCA members to allow and support Obiora Elochukwu ( ASECO Chairman) to finish his work.

“Because further crisis in ANLCA will never help anybody. But, most sincerely, I will also congratulate my big brothers, Chief Henry Njoku and Sir Ernest Elochukwu, while appealing to them to put their differences aside , so that ANLCA will rise more than it is now. Congratulations to all those who love ANLCA.”

On why he has decided to congratulate all this people and the conduct of the election having being a leader from the other faction, he said,

” From the time of Kamba, we have been having divided interests, even in your family, but that doesn’t remove you from the family.

“Interest will never die, but human beings will come and go. Some names are no more heard in ANLCA today, but those who are in the association today will fight to make same ANLCA remain one”.

Ozo also spoke on why he decided to hand over his title as ” Governor ” of Tin Can after over 20 years since he left office in 1999 and his expectations from Wale Cole as the new ” Governor” of Tin Can Chapter.

” I won the first election at Tin Can Island Chapter in 1999, people came together and gave me the title the “Governor of Tin Can”.

“I did not give it to myself , they gave it to me as a nickname, they felt then that I have the capacity to govern that big port of Tin Can.

“When Tin Can, Brawal, SCOA, SIFAX , PTML, all of them were under Tin Can”.

Why he decided to hand over the title to Wale Cole, after many Chairmen have come and gone- Ozo Chukwura said:

“They all came in their own different ways and styles. Dr Kayode Farinto came, a highly educated individual in ANLCA.

“Oyinola came with his own style, but this young man , Wale Cole , came like a Tsunami, that nobody could resist.

“Wale Cole came with a Tsunami that nobody could win him in Tin Can.

” That was how Prince Ozo Chukwura came in 1998, won the election with Tsunami, which I relinquished it to Olatunde, who later supported me to win again in 1999.

” It was the way and manner I collected the key to Tin Can that Prince Taiye Oyeniyi was holding and Oye supported me, that is when they gave me the title ” Governor of Tin Can”.

” Now that Wale Cole came with too much strength, he did not collect the key from me , because am no longer in office, he bulldozed his way and won the chapter election at Tin Can, he is now the new “Governor ” of Tin Can Island Chapter of ANLCA.

On his expectations from Wale Cole, haven’t regarded him as his political godson, Ozo declared

” He should always maintain peace and unity in ANLCA, not to see himself as a tin god , but to be humble.

“So long God has given me a second chance to be alive , I will continue to advice him. I have absolute confidence in him.”

Finally, Ozo Chukwura message to stakeholders to support Wale Cole and ANLCA to succeed, he said

” Many things happens in government. The way it is now is not they way it was then. I will advise him to work , more especially collaboration with NAGAFF people and give due respect to all the executives of NAGAFF, while I will beg them to reciprocate.

” Though, no organize competition, but there are individuals interests ” Prince Ozo Chukwurah concluded.

The ANLCA has been embroiled in an intractable crisis for over five years which the present NECOM inherited.

The crises rocked the association to its very foundation and threatened its existence.

But the recent happenings invite association suggest that peace and sanity is gradually creeping into the association being touted as the oldest and largest freight forwarders association in the country.

Freight Monitor

Freight forwarding business under threat as Customs Agents lament high cost of goods clearance at ports

— We are diversifying into other businesses to stay afloat– ANLCA Chieftain cries out.

Funso OLOJO

This is not the best of times for freight forwarders who ply their trade at the Nigerian ports.

This is because their cherished trade is under threat due to the astronomical increase in the cost of clearance of goods at the ports.

Due to the plethoral of charges slammed on importers/ Shippers at the Port, most of them could not afford to bring in as many containers as before while others have outrightly stopped the importation business.

This development, our reporter gathered, has therefore put the freight forwarding business on the brink of collapse due to lack of patronage.

According to the cost analysis of cargo clearance procedures at the Port, an average importer, using the Nigerian ports, pays more than six different exorbitant charges apart from customs duties.

For instance, before an importer could exit his goods from the ports, he pays the following charges.

a. N500,000 NAFDA Certification

b. N500,000 SON Certification

c.45 per cent( up from 30 per cent) terminal operators and shipping companies service fees/ charges

d. N 150,000 to N200,000 NESREA/ other Environmental Agencies charges

e. N45,000 per day demurrage on 20- footer container

f.N68,500 per day demurrage on 40- footer container

g.20 million Customs duty on 20- footer container

h.26 million Customs duty on 40- footer container.

In addition to these charges, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has recently increased its tariff by 15 percent.

It could also be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service only recently put on hold the 4 per cent Free on Board (FOB) charge on imports due to the outcry of freight forwarders .

However, the FOB charge would eventually be reinstated later after sufficient consultations and sensitization are carried out by the customs.

Alhaji Mukaila Abdullaziz, the former Sole Administrator of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) said the listed bills are more than that.

“What you have just listed was an average cost, they are more than that” he declared with a hint of bitterness in his voice, when asked to confirm the cost analysis as the foremost freight forwarder in the industry.

” The Customs’ Federal Operations Unit(FOU) is still there.

“Their officers will lay siege on the road for a container that have already paid the exorbitant fees you have mentioned.

“They too will slam their panthom charges on the already exited container and if you don’t pay, they will impound it and take it to their office” the ANLCA Chieftain declared.

When asked how freight forwarders break even in the face of these multiple charges, Abdullaziz retorted;

” We are not breaking even .No agent is breaking even except the dare- devil ones who are ready to do anything to break even.

“But for some of us who are old hands on the job and have names to protect, we are not breaking even because we are not ready to compromise the system”

“That is why most of us have diversified into other businesses to stay afloat”.

“The freight forwarding industry is dead” he said with a hint of regret in his emotion – laden voice.

Our reporter could confirm that most of the old hands in the freight forwarding business have diversified into hospitality business as they are owners of choice hotels spread across Lagos and other commercial cities in Nigeria.