CRFFN Forces ANLCA Factions to Reconcile at AGM; Industry on path to greater harmony

Nigerian Maritime industry stakeholders may now enjoy enduring peace, far away from routine but violent closures of the association Secretariat, as factions of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA ended their five-year crisis on Wednesday, at the group’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Industry watchers told the Maritime First that it was either those factional leaders were worn-out, or finally realised that, their self-inflicted distraction, was taking incalculable toll on Association’s progress and well-being.

*Prince Olayiwola Shittu, who delivered ANLCA to its Golden Age.*

The reconciliation meeting/AGM which held at Eko Hotels and suites in Lagos was chaired by the Chairman of the Council For the Regulation Of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni.

The Maritime First further learnt that Tsanni had angrily withdrawn the licence of the Association, in order to actually force the aggrieved parties to embrace peace.

At last, Prince Taye Oyeniyi stepped down as a member of BoT, and he was subsequently made a patron and decorated.

However, following the successful swearing-in of the 8-man BoT, Tsanni returned the Association’s certificate to the Acting President, Dr. Kayode Farinto.

The newly inaugurated eight (8) BOT members are; Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, Dayo Azeez, Sir Ernest Elochukwu, Sir Dennis Okafor, Prince Ozo Chukwura, Alhaji Shamsideen Awopeju, Kingsley Offor and Mr. Eniola Igbaruola.

Speaking at the event, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha appealed to all aggrieved members of the association to embrace peace.

Each faction ironically recognised the body had regressed and lost so much. A chieftain succinctly put it in words: “This ANLCA will be great again.”

“Whatever was brought to the table today was out of being magnanimous. It has been a situation of give and take. We must have the spirit of forgiveness. This ANLCA will be great again,” Mustapha said.

Earlier, the acting President urged all members of the association to accept the new arrangement but noted that the powers of the BoT in ANLCA should be reduced.

However, Farinto recognized the fact that despite the differences between both parties, there is no doubt that leaders in the other party have contributed immensely to the growth of the association.

The crisis had begun shortly after Prince Olayiwola Shittu, unarguably believed to have delivered the association to its Golden Age completed his two tenure stints and honourably created indelible footsteps on the history of the great Association.