By Uzor Odigbo
In a bid to sustain industry harmony in port operations, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Wednesday solicited support from the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) under the leadership of Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju while congratulating the newly elected executives of ANCLA during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) affiliate, Secretariat on Wednesday , urged them to always remember past leaders of the association.
Adeyanju reiterated that former leaders like Prince Olayiwola Shittu remains relevant to the association’s growth adding that his experience of leadership cannot be swept under the carpet thus regular consultation on matters affecting the foremost customs license agents group
The President General further affirmed that ‘This is the first time a freight forwarding association is visiting the secretariat of our union and this will mark a new beginning of friendship in port operations.
“In this vein, I want to commend both the past and the present executives for this latest uninterrupted election and pray this administration will usher in the much awaited peace to reign supreme in ANCLA.
“We as members of the Maritime Workers Union are happy with you and hope to keep our doors open for mutual cooperation and for a possible collaboration which will strengthen both organisations to positively impact our nation’s economy in the maritime industry.
Speaking further, Adeyanju reiterated that the union will work closely with ANLCA in areas of freight forwarding operations, saying that a branch of MWUN does similar operations, hence the need for a Memorandum of Understanding MOU.
Prince Adeyanju who was full of praise for both losers and winners of the just concluded ANCLA elections said there’s need to carry everyone along in the scheme of things as if there was no loser, no winner could have emerged; therefore, all hands must be on deck for a better administration of the Association.
The union leader stated that port operations is not complete without loading, offloading and clearing of cargoes, which according to him, are the functions of freight forwarders and dockworkers
The numero uno of the Maritime Labour Industry admonished the new leadership to work in one direction of purpose, while promising that the ANCLA leaders that he is poised to reciprocate the visit in earnest.
Earlier, the Vice President of ANLCA , Prince Segun Oduntan who led members of the newly elected executives of the association to the National Secretariat of MWUN , stated that ANLCA executives affirmed that their visit was aimed to tap from the leadership qualities of Adeyanju.
Oduntan affirmed that the port industry requires the collaboration of both MWUN and ANLCA, hence the need to work in synergy to grow the sub sector of the nation’s economy.
The Vice President reiterated that an industry like maritime sector should focus more on peaceful coexistence among the various operators, noting that all hands should be on deck to support the Bola Tinubu administration.
He stated that the ANLCA hold the MWUN in high esteem thus the visit would further create a working environment and identify various challenges befalling against the maritime industry.
The leadership of ANCLA also described Comrade Adeyanju as a man of peace, whose leadership acumen in the sector cannot be over-emphasised; hence, the visit to the Maritime Workers Union was very paramount to the new leadership of ANCLA.
The visit had in attendance, Olumide Fakanlu, General Secretary, Hajia Bola Muse, Treasurer, Femi Anifowose, Zonal Coordinator West, Emmanuel Onyeme, National Publicity Secretary NPS of ANLCA etc