ANLCA offers amnesty to repentant agents
By Abimbola Abdullahi
The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has offered an amnesty to its former members who show remorse and true repentance.
National President, ANLCA, Iju Tony Nwabunike, who disclosed this in a statement to SlyeNews said the association is currently taking inventory of any loss or damage from recent attacks, without accusing anyone.
Nwabunike, who bemoaned the show of rascality by agents, said over N20 million worth of property was lost after an attack on its secretariat on October 6, 2020 by hoodlums armed with guns, cutlasses, charms and other dangerous items.
He assured that the association would seek redress and get justice by whatever lawful means.
The statement reads: “I had chosen a dignified silence from afar over the unwarranted sealing of the national secretariat of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) for the second time in two years but chose to break it due to certain exigencies.
“One of the reasons is that it is pertinent to appreciate all NECOM members who through the trying period, joined me in working tirelessly for our organization.
“The National VP, National Secretary and all other officers of NECOM, zonal and chapter officers showed their commitment to truth, fairness and loyalty to our great association, all through.
“It has also become imperative to rebuild confidence in our teeming members and reassure them of absolute reliability from my leadership.
“There is no leadership tussle in ANLCA. The real leader and recognised group that would never want ANLCA destroyed are known.
“We are daily reminded to look at the biblical analogy taken from 1 Kings chapter 3:16-28 where king Solomon used God given wisdom to adjudicate between two mother’s over a disputed child.
“All that concerned the one who was not the child’s mother was destruction for everyone to lose out by having a baby cut into two parts so each disputing mother will have half of a dead and cut child
“This never went well with the true mother who would prefer to lose her son to another woman than to have him killed.
“The real ANLCA leadership and it’s known Board of Trustees who won elections would not be part of arson, wanton attack on the secretariat and pushing to get it locked up or rejoicing whenever it is sealed.
“With the Solomon analogy, we know those who prefers that ANLCA be cut into two equal parts like the disputed baby with each useless part held by two sides as a solution without minding if the body survives or not.
“We are ever committed to the survival, growth and development of ANLCA and will not betray the mandate given us to lead it, which expires in April 2023.
“Recall that after an attack on our secretariat on October 6, 2020 by hoodlums armed with guns, cutlasses, charms and other dangerous items, we lost over N20 million worth of property. Our members and secretariat staff on ground were beaten up and harassed by hired thugs in this incident
“While the police and our national officers are taking inventory of any loss or damage from recent attacks, without accusing anyone, some persons have started faulting our stock taking move in a panicky display.
“We won’t watch our dear association destroyed while we fold our hands. Whatever lawful means available to seek redress and get justice is what we will perpetually be committed to.
“A licensed customs agent is not expected to be a thug or promoter of thugs to unleash attack on the secretariat of the foremost body of professionals in customs brokerage in Nigeria.
“We are never part of “If we can’t have it, let’s destroy it mentality”. My administration has always been open to recounciliation in the interest of one united and indivisible ANLCA.
“I hereby enjoin all our members across the country to continually be law abiding and report attacks or threat to attack to the police. I also extend the olive branch again to our former members who show remorse and true repentance.
“We may review the various sanctions ranging from suspension to expulsion and grant them amnesty for readmission, if they truly change and resolve to abide by our constitution.
“This is not out of fear or cowardice and therefore should not be taken for granted because under my watch any form of indiscipline or lawlessness behaviours will not be condoned.
“Our secretariat is open and functioning for your use and operation while as leaders we keep working towards a more peaceful and orderly body,” he stated.
