Amid the circulation of a viral video on social media where a female customs officer, Assistant Comptroller Isa A.M was publicly humiliated by freight agents and shippers at the Car Park C of Five Star Logistics Terminal, Tin Can Island Port, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has exonerated its members from the act which it described as despicable.
Speaking in Lagos at a press briefing held at the ANLCA National Secretariat on Wednesday, National Publicity Secretary (NPS) of ANLCA, Mr. Emmanuel Onyeme said members of the association were not part of the people that humiliated the Customs officer adding that the foremost licensed customs brokers group is a crusader of collaboration and consultation with management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant government agencies.
Onyeme’s words: “We called this press briefing in response to a recent incident. I’m sure you’ve seen the video circulating, showing an officer from the Nigeria Customs Service being publicly mistreated at Five Star Terminal, Car Park ‘C’ in Tin Can Island Port.
“ANLCA values and respects collaboration with government agencies. We believe in engaging properly, even in difficult situations. Our approach is rooted in dialogue, consultation, and cooperation to ensure government revenue is generated through compliance.”
The ANLCA spokesman stressed that on the day of the ill-fated attack on the customs officer, coincidentally, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi was in Lagos at the PTML Terminal for the launching of the B’Odogwu trade platform.
The ANLCA Spokesman said that senior officials of ANLCA both at National and chapter levels were with the CGC.
“During the CGC’s visit for the “B’Odogwu” pilot program at PTML Terminal, our Vice President, Zone Coordinator, SSA Media, and other executive officers were present.
“After the event, we saw the video of the incident at Five Star. ANLCA members were not involved, and we condemn the behavior exhibited. We adhere to the Customs Act, which outlines our role and engagement with government agencies.
“This briefing is necessary because there’s been media speculation about ANLCA’s involvement in the incident. We want to clarify: ANLCA had no part in this. If we were to take any action, it would be based on the principles of engagement, dialogue, and consultation, led by our National Executive Council (NECOM) and overseen by our leader, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji.
“The reason why i have Mr Soleji the Task Force Chairman and the Sole Administrator of our Tin Can chapter here is to confirm that neither they nor any ANLCA members were involved in this incident” he said.
Onyeme, who was flanked by the Chairman, Presidential Task Force of ANLCA, Goddy Sewa Soleji, as well as the Sole Administrator of the Tin Can Island Chapter of the association, Sunday Oforha took turns go defend the association, also expressed satisfaction over Customs Area Controller in charge of Tin Can Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi for his open door policy.
Meanwhile, he commended the Customs leadership at the affected port, saying “The Custom Area Controller of Tin Can Command, Controller Dera Nnadi, operates an open policy. He typically starts work as early as 6:30am or 7:00am and remains on duty until 10:00pm readily available to assist people.
“Each day, he ensures that all documents submitted to his office are processed promptly. According to the policy, any document submitted after 6:00 p.m. is not accepted. However, if a document arrives before 6:00 p.m., he will review and sign it, even if this requires him to work as late as 11:00 p.m”
Similarly, Sole Administrator of ANLCA Tin Can chapter, Sunday Oforha corroborated the association’s spokesman, saying that every challenges being experienced by Customs brokers at Tin Can Port is being handled by the chapter in dialogue with the Customs Area Controller, hence there was no cause for its members to take laws into their hands or resort to violence.
On his part, the Chairman Presidential Monitoring Task Force, Goddy Sewa Soleji maintained that ANLCA as an organization, have procedures for addressing its operational challenges, and that the one orchestrated against the female Customs officers was never from ANLCA members.