Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of caretaker committees for five chapters of ANLCA at the association’s National Secretariat on Tuesday, Shittu, who was lately a member of the CRFFN Governing Council, blamed the Council for the “population influx” into the ports, alleging that the regulatory body has indiscriminately been registering non-professionals to operate as clearing agents.
The ANLCA boss also had harsh words for licensed Customs agents, who, according to him, let out their licences, helping to boost the ranks of quacks in the industry.
“CRFFN has not really gotten it right. A lot of people are aiding and abetting the Council, because they are looking for reasons to be in the ports. What they want is that anybody can go online, register with CRFFN, pay their money to be given ID cards and can go as freight forwarders into the ports! These people go to the ports and tell the public that they are Customs agents, knowing well that you cannot be a Customs agent without working in a company that has a license! Anyway, I blame our members for letting out our licenses to be used by those who have no business in the ports,” Shittu said.
Meanwhile, pending the conclusion and submission of the report of the Elections Petitions Panel set up by the ANLCA leadership to investigate allegations of malpractices in the conduct of its recently held Western Zone chapters elections, Shittu has inaugurated five caretaker committees to administer five chapters of the association where elections were inconclusive.
The inauguration ceremony held at the ANLCA National Secretariat saw Shittu swearing in the caretaker committees in conformity with Section 8 (2) (b) of the 2008 Supreme Constitution of ANLCA, which, according to the ANLCA boss, states that where “elections are inconclusive caretakers should be put in place.”
Shittu stated: “This is in conformity with the constitution that says that where elections are inconclusive caretakers should be put in place. Earlier we thought that the panel that was set up to hear petitions from aggrieved individuals will round up on time because we gave them one week but we discovered that they had about 72 petitions. There were more petitions from supporters than from the candidates themselves. The panel will examine all these petitions and come out with acceptable results which may not be totally acceptable by everybody. But whatever is the outcome of the panel will enable us to correct any wrongs that may have been done. That is why are giving them enough time. The panel report is also holding those chapters where elections were concluded. If there are petitions against some of them, we will look at it. Once this is concluded, we will give Certificates of Return, I will now inform the authorities and then ANLCA will settle to march on.”
Appointed were Chief Oye Ariyo, Chief Isidore Martins, Mr. Segun Alabi and Mr. Ben Nwokeika, as Chairman, Secretary, Public Relations Officer and Treasurer, respectively, to administer Tin-Can Island Port Chapter; Chief Chukwunonso Chukwudinma, as Chairman of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Chapter; Mr. Anselm Njemanze, as Chairman Lilypond Chapter; Elder Tijani Abel as Chairman and Alhaji Dauda Olatunji Omideyi as Secretary of Idiroko Chapter; Chief Tomi Aloba, Mr. Jimoh Lawal and Mr. Barnabas Ikpe, as Chairman, Secretary and Public Relations Officer, respectively, for Ikorodu Lighter Terminal Chapter.
The appointees are to be in office for 90 days, subject to when the Elections Petition Panel submit its report.
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