A fresh round of face-off is brewing between the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the Council for Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) as the National Executive Council (NEC) of ANLCA has ordered its members to shun the directive by CRFFN over payment of practitioners fee.
Briefing newsmen after a meeting yesterday, ANLCA National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Kayode Farinto said the NEC, which is the highest decision making body of the association, had also suspended any further discussion between the association and CRFFN until further notice.
He said the association would resist attempt by CRFFN to introduce levy that would increase cost of clearing goods at the ports.
“NEC however constituted a committee to interface with the management of CRFFN to come up with recommendation towards further engagement.
“The committee is empowered by NEC to discuss, negotiate and take all appropriate steps towards ANLCA professional interest,” he told journalists.
The committee members according to him include the association’s former President, Chief Ernest Elechukwu; Chief Peter Obi; Prince Taiye Oyeniyi; Mayor Ekweche; David Kanikwu; Bayo Oyekanju; Alhaji Umar Ibrahim and Farinto.
CRFFN had last week said it would start the collection of practicing fee from customs brokers and freight forwarders from 11th May 2015.
In a Public Notice, the Council said, “In exercise of the powers conferred on the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria under section 4 (d) and 6 (2) (C) of the CRFFN Act No 16 of 2007, notice is hereby brought to all registered freight forwarders; all seaport terminal operators; all airports cargo terminal handlers and the general public that the collection of practitioners fee by the council commence on Monday 11th May 2015.”
Meanwhile, ANLCA has said it would advise its principals to divert their cargoes NAHCO to other warehouses at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport should NAHCO proceed with the 30% increase in its cargo handling charges.
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