ANLCA gets new BoT as B-9 Likeminds wins all nine seats on association’s board

The B-9 Likeminds of the Association of Nigerian License Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Thursday emerged victorious in the association’s Board of Trustees election winning all nine seats on the board.

The B- 9 group came out victorious after a keenly contested election held across the three zones; East, West and North simultaneously.

The results showed that the Western Zone in Lagos had most voters with 370 while the Eastern Zone in Port Harcourt had 106 and North in Abuja had less than 20.

Members of the B-9 group got the highest number of votes with the following results.

Alh. Taiwo Mustapha- 334, Ernest elochukwu–323, Kingsley Offor–310, Dennis Okafor–302, Sunday Momoh–294, Dayo azeez–291, Sanni utai–275, Tunde awonuga–270 and Ademola Mumuney with 239 votes.

Three candidates, however, lost out, they included; Ozor chukwura–217
Kayode farinto–204
Eniola igbarola–136

Meanwhile, there was palpable tension at the election venue as one of the aspirants and former national secretary, Babatunde Mukaila was disqualified from the election by the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO).

However, in a display of sportsmanship, Mukaila decided not to contest the decision of ASECO just as he noted that sustaining the peace in ANLCA is much important than his BoT ambition.

His words, ” I have every rights to stop this election from holding because I have been disenfranchised. However, I cannot because of my ambition and destroy the peace that i have helped build in ANLCA for the past several months. I have told my supporters to go ahead and cast their votes.

“Election is like a game of sports, its either you win or you lose, it is not a do or die affair, my National President has appealed to me and I have decided to let things slide, this is not time to start going to court and dragging the association backwards.”

Speaking earlier at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) National President of ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji urged members to vote competent personalities who can deliver into the ANLCA Board and not just personalities who only wish to be in the board for their selfish reasons.

Nwokoeji, who enumerated how peace eluded the association in the past over leadership crisis, said “The event of today is meant to once again inform the general public, and particularly stakeholders, that ANLCA is fully back in the comity of Associations in the Maritime industry, to take its rightful position as the numero uno Customs Brokerage/Freight Forwarding Association in Nigeria especially and, internationally in general.

“In truth, I have been National Vice President for two tenures before (2010 – 2018). I had contested and lost elections in 2018 to be the National President. But, in truth, I never hesitated in congratulating the declared winner.

“Importantly, 5 years, after our misunderstanding in ANLCA, it is time to come together to chart a new course of relevance for our Association, for the benefit of our long-suffering members, for our Nation Nigerian, and humanity’s sake.

“It is in the light of this that I, and other members of my executive, seek the support of you – our mutual and common stakeholders, in the pursuit of a mutually beneficial collaboration and partnership, in this arduous, but not impossible, task of leading ANLCA back to National and International reckoning.

“We hereafter reach out to all the stakeholders to synergize on issues bordering on the advancement of the Maritime and Aviation industry, and infact on National Policy issues as they affect our subsector, in order to present a formidable, common front.

“To ANLCA members, I must thank all of you for your resilience, perseverance, understanding, and patience, during the crisis, so much so that you never fell for the cajoling of other Associations to join them, by departing ANLCA for theirs.

“To the Women in ANLCA (the ANLCA angels), you deserve my special accolade at the appropriate time. Your steadfast love, commitment, dedication, and sacrifice will not go unrewarded by the grace of the God we serve. The entire NECOM is eternally grateful and proud of you.

“The NECOM election at Federal Palace Hotel was lost by both contending parties but, won by all ANLCA members.

“Building on our Restoration mantra, we have done so much within so short a period in stabilizing the ship of our great Association. Peace and unity are more paramount than ever before.

“After years of doldrums, we should avoid divisions and work in harmony to collectively protect our common heritage before others, particularly foreigners will shove us behind. Once again let’s close ranks with sister Associations and collectively rescue our profession from outsiders masquerading as Clearing Agents or Customs Brokers before it’s too late.” he said.

The election was monitored by Customs officials, including a representative of the Comptroller General of Customs and the Nigerian Police Force.