ANLCA Commends Tin Can Comptroller Frank Onyeka for Streamlining Alerts, Introduces Wale Cole-led Chapter Excos

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Emenike Nwokeoji on Thursday 27th March, 2025, led the National Executive Committee (NECOM) of the association on a visit to the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Customs, Compt Frank Onyeka, even as he commended the Comptroller for streamlining all alerts on cargoes and eradicating delays in cargo delivery.

The ANLCA President also took the time to introduce the newly elected executives of the Tin Can Island Chapter led by Prince Olawale Cole

He appreciated Compt Frank Onyeka for his magnanimity in ensuring that the synergy existing between both ANLCA and the Command is subsisting and waxing stronger.

On his part, the Customs boss appreciated Emenike and members of ANLCA for assisting the command raise the revenue targets of the Command and hopes to sustain it beyond expectations.

The ANLCA National President also visited the newly renovated Tin Can Chapter Secretariat where he held a heart to heart meeting with the members on how to address their operational challenges.

He urged members to always ensure that their operational challenges are passed on to the Executives for solutions.

He commended the Tin Can Island Port executives led by Prince Olawale Cole for the establishment of a health center and sick bay at the Chapter, promising to replicate same at the National level.

The renovation works in the Chapter’s secretariat was also appreciated by the National President.
He admonished the Chapter Executives to ensure that all members, irrespective their divide during voting, are carried along in everything they do. He said there must be cooperation and collaboration in their administration for members to benefit from their leadership.

Speaking earlier during a stakeholders meeting, the Chairman of Tin Can chapter of ANLCA, Prince Olawale Cole assured all the freight forwarding associations operating at the Tincan Island port of an open and inclusive governance which will bring about a coordinated approach to solving the operational challenges facing their members.

He also assured that he would mobilize both the present and past leaders of the freight forwarding associations in the chapter to create a platform where they could come together as a family to brainstorm on ways to tackle common operational challenges facing their members.

While also pledging to release three telephone numbers which would also include his where members could report their operational challenges, he said, “We are going to come up, probably by next week, with committees that will handle each and every operational challenges.

“Why I want to do this is that I want to bring other sister associations – APFFLON, NAGAFF and others into those committees. I want it to be a combined efforts because we are not in competition here, what we need is result. We want to achieve a new Tincan and that is what we need and believe me, by God’s grace, we will get it right.”

Continuing, he said, “We have sister associations here, and I want to use this opportunity also to tell our sister associations that we are going to form a very big family and we are going to work as one big family. 

“All our members have been suffering in one way or the other because we didn’t have a proper organization. Now, with all the past leaders of the whole associations, and the present leaders of the associations, the present executive of the associations, and the past executive of the associations, we are going to come together, form a platform that the customs and other stakeholders in the industry will know that this is a new dawn in Tincan.”

Describing Tincan as a winner, the Chairman further underscored the importance of the stakeholders saying, “We cannot achieve more without everybody’s contribution.”

Appreciating those who contributed towards the refurbishment of the chapter secretariat which before now was under lock and key, Cole stated, “Even after election, they still contributed to this huge project and you shouldn’t be surprised because it’s a job that we prepared ourselves for. It’s a vision that we have had for so many years and believe me, somebody just have to take that pain to start it. And I believe that with all the past leaders and their experiences, we are going to get it right.

“Believe me, even if they don’t give you Coordinator or they don’t give you ID card, this secretariat is free and open for you and unless you don’t come, the moment you step into this secretariat, all your problems are solved by the grace of the almighty God.”

Speaking on collapsing the different factions that had existed in the chapter before now and the need for everyone to close rank and work together for the good of the members of the association, he said, “We need everybody to believe now, from this moment that all of us are one and we are all going to work together. 

“The job is very broad such that one person cannot do it all. We need everybody’s input, we need bunch of intellectuals sitting down here, we need people with vision sitting down here to contribute to this project so that at the end of the day, we will all come out successful.

“And by the grace of the almighty God, Tincan has gotten a new government. Everything is in the hands of stakeholders. There’s nothing like I know how to do it. As you see me, in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, I have been consulting with all the past leaders, I have been brainstorming with all the past leaders. Whatever you see that is happening today, is a joint effort.

“It’s not about Wale Cole because there’s no other faction in Tincan again, we are under one umbrella. I want us all to take each other as brother and sister, that’s the only way we can achieve this.”