By Godfrey Bivbere     & Uzoma Egwu

After years of bitter rivalry between the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, both bodies last week signified  intention to end hostilities when NAGAFF leadership paid a courtesy call on its counterpart.

National President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, while welcoming the delegation to the ANLCA secretariat, expressed happiness that the re-union happened during his tenure. He regarded the event as a good omen for the freight forwarding industry which he said had been polarised for too long.

He, however, vowed to ensure that the new-found unity is protected and enduring.
According to him, “the unity would be enduring. I am elated by this historic event which is a good omen and a watershed in the freight forwarding industry. With our unity, we shall be able to fight our common enemies.
“This is a day we have all been longing to see,” the ANLCA chief declared.

He warned members of the two re-united bodies who may wish to sabotage the new dispensation to have a re-think as such members would be flushed out of the system.

Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface O. Aniebonam, in his response called for unification of freight forwarding groups to ensure adequate capacity building and enhanced business growth in the industry.

He lamented that those ten years of animosity between the two associations has been exploited by their common enemies, adding that the freight forwarding profession would witness a new dawn with the resolution of the decade-long dispute.

He, therefore, enjoined the leadership of the two associations to pool their energies and resources together towards the common goal of elevating the profession.

He said: “As a starting point, I will advise that both associations establish a high powered contact committee to work out areas of joint co-operation which are geared towards promoting our common cause and mutual respect. We should put behind us the use of violence and force in resolving dispute and instead embrace dialogue and love for one another.

“This change and subsequent inter-association squabbles, you will all agree with me, made us to stand on our toes and realise the need to effect reforms within the freight forwarding and custom brokerage profession
“Competition, they say, brings out the best in us; and for the past 10 years since NAGAFF came on board, the profession has been brought to the front burner of not only national, but also global discourse.”