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With eyes firmly set on a more seamless, technology-driven maritime landscape in 2026, licensed customs agents and freight forwarders converged in Lagos for a lively end-of-year celebration hosted by the Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Segun Oduntan.
The gathering, on Wednesday, blended strategy with celebration, as industry players toasted the close of 2025 and renewed optimism for the year ahead.
Marked by laughter, music and warm camaraderie, the evening festivity brought together members of ANLCA and sister associations, including the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) and the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON). It was both a moment to unwind after a demanding year and an opportunity to take stock of an industry shaped by regulatory shifts, policy reforms and gradual technological change.
A long-standing tradition now over a decade old, ANLCA annual get-together attracted prominent figures from across the freight forwarding community. In attendance were ANLCA’s patron, Taiye Oyeniyi; Board of Trustees member, Dayo Azeez; Western Zone Coordinator, Femi Anifowose; ANLCA National Treasurer, Hajia Bola Muse;;and chapter chairmen from Seme, Lekki and Apapa. Female freight forwarding leaders, friends and associates also added colour and energy to the occasion.
Welcoming guests, Oduntan described the celebration as an expression of gratitude and unity. He noted that surviving and thriving through another year in a demanding industry was itself worthy of celebration. According to him, the gathering provided space for colleagues to reconnect, reflect and chart a collective course forward in a relaxed atmosphere.
Reviewing the past year, Oduntan gave a positive assessment of the maritime and freight forwarding sector, estimating a 60 to 70 percent improvement compared to the previous year.
He pointed to Nigeria’s return to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Category C, the election of the Comptroller-General of Customs as Chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO), and steady advances in automation as indicators of progress.
Oduntan, however, acknowledged that new systems introduced during the year came with initial challenges but stressed that the industry had shown resilience and adaptability. Innovations such as the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, Time Release Studies and the B’Odogwu platform, he said, are gradually redefining cargo clearance and operational efficiency.
Beyond policy and technology, Oduntan highlighted his personal commitment to growing the industry’s human capacity, disclosing that through mentorship and guidance, at least 20 practitioners secured operating licences in 2025.
He also revealed that several professionals from outside the sector, including former bankers, successfully transitioned into maritime trade under his guidance, particularly in export and import operations.
Looking ahead, Oduntan expressed confidence that 2026 would consolidate recent gains, singling out the anticipated rollout of the National Single Window in the first quarter of the year as a potential game-changer that could align Nigeria’s trade processes more closely with global best practices and improve ease of doing business.
Adding a note of counsel, ANLCA Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, represented by Dayo Azeez, urged practitioners to protect their relevance by maintaining valid operational licences and exploring collaboration where necessary.
As the night wore on, formal reflections gave way to dancing, networking and shared laughter, capturing the spirit of an industry determined to move into 2026 united, hopeful and ready for greater expeditions.
