Joseph Olaoluwa
Freight forwarders and Customs brokers have been advised to take responsibility for their health and safety in the advent of a looming second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Tony Nwabunike, gave the advice in a statement marking the New Year celebrations on Friday.
He also lauded the Customs brokers for their collective resilience in keeping the entire logistics chain functional during the periods of lockdown and movement restrictions.
He said, “As we enter the new year, 2021 we must not lose our guards – A second wave of COVID-19 has been identified and detected. It has become imperative that we continue to take responsibility and act in line with clearly spelt out guidelines.
“Our colleagues at all recently reopened land borders who were not at work last year due to border closure are advised to take a cue from Customs brokers and freight forwarders at the sea and airports.
“Taking responsibility is aimed at keeping ourselves safe and avoiding the spread of the disease to our loved ones at home and the larger society.”
Nwabunike said the association was interfacing with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bank of Industry on the need for a special loan scheme to help logistics firms in expanding and maintaining a fleet of heavy-duty and lighter vehicles required beyond the coverage of train services.
He tasked freight forwarders to strengthen the chords of e-commerce by adapting to new ways of doing things, part of which involved e-commerce, online transactions, virtual meetings and deploying Internet of Things to productive use.
Recounting the attack on the secretariat that cost the association a part of its property, and millions of naira, he asked aggrieved persons to embrace peace and dialogue to strengthen growth.
He said, “ANLCA is strong and indivisible. It is in reality, the mother of every group that identifies itself as a customs licence or freight forwarding body in Nigeria.
“As mother hen of the sector, our wings are wide enough to cover and cater for all. I hereby call on all aggrieved persons in our organisation to come into our warm embrace as we enter a new year. Let’s work together as one.
“No person or group is perfect. Whoever feels offended or aggrieved by our style of administration should also forgive us any perceived shortcoming on our part.”
He said the impact of the association’s activities on the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and many others reinforced its strategic role in government economic diversification agenda.
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