The Face Of Maritime International (FOMI) has condemned in strongest terms the Tuesday morning attack on the National Secretariat (Dikko Inde House) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) by hoodlums allegedly sponsored by detractors and enemies of peace and progress in the association.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos and signed by ANLCA Ambassador and Queen Tourism-Face of Maritime International, Queen Obodozie Adaeze, FOMI stated that as the foremost lisenced customs agents’ association in Nigeria, ANLCA has come of age with over 65 years in existence and should be treated as an elder stakeholder group in the maritime sector.
According to the statement, “An attack on ANLCA is an attack on the economy of Nigeria as the association members account for the trillions of naira which the Nigeria Customs Service generate as revenue for federal government annually”.
“Face Of Maritime International is fully aware that the current Leadership of ANLCA led by Hon Tony Iju Nwabunike was democratically elected in a free and fair election held over two years ago. Hence, FOMI maintains that this exco should be allowed to serve out it’s tenure in peace. We therefore appeal to any aggrieved ANLCA members to please give peace, dialogue and unity a chance and not resort to violence or self help. An attack on ANLCA Secretariat is not an attack on Nwabunike or his executive, but an assault on ANLCA as a body.
“FOMI is calling on Nigerian Police to ensure it bring the perpetrators of the ANLCA Secretariat attack to book immediately to serve as a deterrent to others. FOMI will launch ‘Name & Shame’ social media campaign against any individuals found as mastermind(s) of the attack on ANLCA Secretariat because ‘Dikko Inde House’ deserves some respect and “injury to one is injury to all”, FOMI stated.