Aniebonam Weigh-in On ANLCA Crisis, Says God is Punishing Them for Fighting NAGAFF

…Urges Tony Iju To Listen To Shittu, Other Elders

…As Police Arrest 10 Hoodlums for Attacking ANLCA Secretariat

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr Boniface Aniebonam has charged sister association; Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) to stop attacking NAGAFF, saying that the association would not know peace if it continues to fight NAGAFF.

This is even as 40 hoodlums broke into the ANLCA National Secretariat located at Amuwo Odofin on Tuesday and destroyed valuable properties and wrecked havoc.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, Aniebonam urged the National President of ANLCA, Tony Iju Nwabunike to listen to wise counsel from his predecessor, Prince Olayiwola Shittu and other past presidents and elders of the association if he wants to know peace.

According to the NAGAFF founder, there is so much to be achieved at the port if both associations can collaborate and work together.
But rather than partner NAGAFF, he said ANLCA has always opposed every good initiative brought about by NAGAFF, including the establishment of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria which is a a brainchild of NAGAFF.

“ANLCA should stop fighting, let the leaders put their heads together and put their house in order, they should join hands with NAGAFF”

“But I must tell ANLCA that they better watch it, and stop fighting NAGAFF, the time you use in fighting NAGAFF is what you should use to think better, let them listen to people like Prince Olayiwola Shittu”

“Look at the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, as far as I am concerned, ANLCA has never allowed it to be, the Council is the best thing that can happen to this industry, but just because it is the baby of NAGAFF, they kicked against it”

“The council would survive, its just a matter of time, because it is the saving grace as far as freight forwarding is concerned”

“ANLCA needs to come and apologise to NAGAFF for fighting us and going against us always, when you fight the children of God, the consequences are there, they might not really know why they are fighting.
We are agents of God, if you keep fighting us, God will not allow you to settle down, NAGAFF is 21 years old”

“Prince Olayiwola Shittu came to NAGAFF as the president of ANLCA, Tony Iju should listen to Shittu, Shittu told ANLCA members to collaborate with NAGAFF because we can achieve so much together, but they never allowed him be”

“Since Tony Iju became president of ANLCA, he has been making calls and promising to visit NAGAFF, but certain forces stopped him, does this make him a leader?

“NAGAFF is ordained by God, if you are fighting us then you will continue to be in trouble. Farinto (ANLCA Vice President) tried to bridge the gap, a lot of right thinking people are there in ANLCA, if ANLCA collaborate with NAGAFF, a lot of things would change”

“Because they kept fighting us, the CRFFN has now become an agency of government, now we are struggling to get it back” he said

Aniebonam also said that the NAGAFF 100% compliance team has come to add value to business at the port, and that it should be embraced.

He said the compliance team is not out to witch-hunt any government agency, but to complement them better in execution of their mandate and make the Nigerian ports a better place.

Meanwhile, hoodlums numbering over 40 yesterday stormed the ANLCA national secretariat at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State.

The attackers came with dangerous weapons including AK 47, Pistols and charms, chase away admin staff at the edifice, while ransacking offices and carting away cash and valuable documents.

Ten of the hoodlums were later arrested by the Nigeria Police in connection with the attack. Items recovered from the miscreants were four AK47 rifles, two pistols and a bag of charms.

Speaking on the attack, National President of ANLCA, Tony Iju Nwabunike said “ANLCA under my watch will continue to be a law abiding organisation and will not give room to miscreants or lawless people. I want to assure all our members to stay away from trouble and shun any advise by misguided persons to foment trouble”

“When the attack happened, our members and Secretariat staff on ground ran for their lives. It is my hope that non of them got hurt by the attackers”