Freight forwarders seek special loan scheme for expansion

The Association of Nigeria Licensed Clearing Agents (ANLCA) has appealed to the Federal Government to create a special loan that would assist those in the logistics sector expand and maintain their fleet. ANLCA National President, Iju Tony Nwabunike, in his New Year message said this has become necessary to assist the logistics sector from dying. […]

The Association of Nigeria Licensed Clearing Agents (ANLCA) has appealed to the Federal Government to create a special loan that would assist those in the logistics sector expand and maintain their fleet.

ANLCA National President, Iju Tony Nwabunike, in his New Year message said this has become necessary to assist the logistics sector from dying.

Nwabunike said the association was looking forward to interfacing stronger with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry (BoI) on the need for a special loan scheme to help logistics firms in expanding and maintaining fleet of heavy duty and lighter vehicles required beyond coverage of train services.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to strengthen the chords of e-commerce, online transactions, virtual meetings and deploying Internet of Things (IoT) to maximal economic and productive use.

While reviewing the activities of the association in 2020, Nwabunike said ANLCA as a responsible Organization complied with Covid19 protocols throughout the periods when many others stayed at home.

This he said is a function of the individual self-discipline, corporate coordination and selflessness.

“This selfless attribute was a factor driven beyond personal gain and aimed at ensuring needed cargoes, including medical supplies, exited our ports to their destined locations across the country.

“Even when the Federal Government provided free buses for us to access and exit ports, which in most cases weren’t enough, many of you were at work on your own at extra costs to you. You are appreciated.

“As we enter the New Year, 2021 we must not lose our guards – a second wave of #Covid19 has been identified and detected. It has become imperative that we continue to take responsibility and act in line with clearly spelt out guidelines.

“Our colleagues at all recently reopened land borders who were not at work last year due to border closure are advised to take a cue from customs brokers and freight forwarders at the sea and air ports.

“Taking responsibility is aimed at keeping ourselves safe and avoiding spread of the disease to our loved ones at home and the larger society.

“As you are aware, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the 2021 Appropriation Law of over N13.5 trillion with a charge to revenue generating agencies to scale up their efforts for collection into government coffers.

“We, as professionals,  interface with no fewer than nine revenue collecting and regulatory agencies of government in the course of our professional services and will therefore be part of Nigeria’s success stories economically, as we have always been, albeit unsung” he added.

He said the impact of ANLCA on Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and many others reinforces the association’s strategic role in government economic diversification agenda and increasing its non oil revenue base.

He said: “According to figures obtained from the National Bureau for Statistics (NBS) and African Development Bank (AfDB) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was projected to rise to 2.9% in 2020 and 3.3% in 2021 depending on implementing the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan(ERGP)

“The country’s GDP for 2019 was $448.12B, a 12.55% increase from 2018 which was $398.16B, a 5.97% increase from 2017. All these have our inputs

“I must commend the resilience of the freight forwarders, customs brokers for keeping the chain of commerce unbroken by ensuring circulation of goods and services across the country even within areas of security concern.

“Be assured, once again that ANLCA under my watch and by your popular mandate, will continue to engage government strategically at various levels to achieve better deals for all our colleagues.

“We look forward to interfacing stronger with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry (BoI) on the need for a special loan scheme to help logistics firms in expanding and maintaining fleet of heavy duty and lighter vehicles required beyond coverage of train services.”