MMIA secretariat closure costing Nigeria huge revenue – Agents

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents has stated that the country is losing large amounts of revenue owing to the continuous closure of the association’s secretariat at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Addressing journalists during a protest at the association’s headquarters in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, on Tuesday, the South-West Zonal Coordinator of ANLCA, Mr Femi Anifowose, said that the situation has created internal tensions within the association.

He maintained that the continued closure of the MMIA Chapter office has disrupted the association’s operations and is negatively affecting government revenue.

“If the secretariat is not open, customs brokers are not settled at the airport, and if customs brokers are not settled, Nigeria is losing revenue from the airport,” Anifowose said.

Anifowose insisted that the leadership crisis at the airport chapter of the association had already been resolved, but the police’s refusal to reopen the office was undermining that resolution, adding that it  has prevented members from properly organising their activities in line with the directives of the Federal Government and the Nigeria Customs Service.

He highlighted that access to the secretariat would allow the association to regulate its members, improve coordination, and ensure compliance with government policies, stressing that the current situation has left members scattered and weakened internal control mechanisms within the association.

Anifowose said the association’s Board of Trustees Chairman and other executives had visited the police command in an attempt to resolve the matter but were unable to secure the release of the office keys.

“We went with the BoT chairman and other leaders to meet the Commissioner. We were told to provide an undertaking, which we did; yet the keys have still not been released to us,” Anifowose stated.

He warned that the continued closure of the secretariat is affecting trade facilitation activities at the airport and called on the current Inspector-General of Police to intervene urgently to ensure order.

“We are appealing to the Nigerian Police Force to look into this matter very critically. This is already affecting our operations and our trade,” he added.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, MMIA Command of the Nigerian Police Force, Mohammed Adeola, said, “I cannot make a comment on this as their case is still in court.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the MMIA, Olufunke Ogunbode, said, “It is easier for anyone to assume any name and any media outfit. I do not know you and I have not met you before, so I do not think I would like to talk on the phone.”