The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has unveiled plans to celebrate its 72nd anniversary with several activities, including a novelty table tennis championship and members’ empowerment programmes.
The event is scheduled to take place on 29th of September 2026 at the prestigous Marriot Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
The line up of guests expected include the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Chairman of Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) Dr Zacch Adedeji. while the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Dr Abubakar Dantsoho would speak on infrastructure development at the port and maritime lawyer, Dr Emeka Akabogu is expected to give a lecture at the ocassion.
Speaking with journalists on Monday about the upcoming celebration, the National President of ANLCA, Emenike Kingsley Nwokeoji said the last time the association held such celebration was twelve years ago under its former President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu who marked the 60th years anniversary for the oldest freight forwarding association.
Emenike noted that in 72 years, ANLCA as an association and it’s membership has evolved, and that members are now better refined in their way of doing businesses at the port, while a whole lot of them have undergone several trainings home and abroad.
“The most important thing we are celebrating is our unity, we have come a long way, we have gone through a whole lot of muddy waters, but God has helped ANLCA to emerge even stronger, and that is why we want to celebrate our unity
“At a point, people felt that ANLCA would go into oblivion, one of our past President even made a statement that after him, there wouldn’t be ANLCA again, but God is stronger than him, ANLCA is an institution that all of us have passed through, after all the storm, we still remain united” he said
Coincidentally, in August 2026, Emenike said the present National Executive Committee (NECOM) under his leadership would be marking it’s 3-years in office.
Speaking about the challenges experienced under his administration, he said the association has continually battled with saboteurs who are members of the association, but always act as opposition.
“The challenge is that some members, maybe because they are naturally politicians, they still don’t know the difference between national politics and association politics, you would always see them acting as opposition, whenever ANLCA is going right, they would be going in the left direction.
“When I manage to talk once in a while and criticise government policies, they see it as an opportunity for them to curry favour with government and say that what I am saying is wrong.
“Apart from these, there would always be dissenting voices, even in our personal homes, but not for you to start using ANLCA as an opposition, you are not doing the association any good, the association should be seen as one indivisible body, who knows? Tommorow you might even be President of the Association, so how would you feel if the same is done to you?
When the President of this country speaks today, you cannot see a minister come out openly to criticise him that he is lying, they can do that privately, but not to grant an interview to challenge the President, but all these are what people do in ANLCA out of ignorance.
However, we have managed not to confront anybody or engage them and make it news” he said
Speaking on the level of transformation and training that ANLCA members have undergone, Emenike commended the Nigeria Customs Service as partners, he particularly referenced the current administration of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi as Comptroller-General of Customs who have brought a number of modernization into the cargo clearing profession.
“In the few years tenure of Wale Adeniyi as the CG of Customs, a whole lot of reforms have taken place and they are still going on. For our members to match these reforms, it shows you that we are no longer people that loiter around the port to do business, everything is now done electronically. We have trained our people, and the Customs have equally organised series of trainings.
“For example, we also had the training recently on National Single Window, for over six weeks, the training was going on, our members were seen operating the systems and even the trainers identified some of them and gave awards for their level of intelligence.
“In every profession, there would always be quacks, but I can tell you that the professionals are gaining grounds, while the quacks are being phased out, because you cannot interact with customs without understanding the system and the password, the system would lock you out” Emenike said
Also speaking on the upcoming 72-Years Anniversary, the Chairman organising committee and Vice president of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan gave more insight into the upcoming event.
According to him, the association is organising a table tennis tournament which would have all chapters of the association across the Federation in participation. The tournament is bill to hold at Not Bad Sports Arena, Egbeda, Lagos.
According to Prince Oduntan “It is not an external affair, it is going to hold within our membership, and we want them to be aware of the novelty game. It is going to be a one day affair, the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation would be there as the umpire. After the tournament, we shall all seat together and merry”
He also explained that the 72-Years Anniversary is billed to hold on Tuesday 29th of September, while the table tennis tournament would hold on Sunday 27th of September.
He said that Monday would afford all members coming from far away Easters Ports and members from Northern chapters to rest before the event proper on Tuesday.
Apart from the table tennis tournament, Prince Oduntan said a whole lot of activities have been lined up towards the 72nd celebration including empowerment for widows, elderly and less privileged within the association.
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