The National President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Iju Tony Nwabunike has sent a special message to all ANLCA members, the entire Nigerian freight forwarding community and Christians in the country as the world celebrates Easter today.
In the message he sent from the Harvad University, USA, where he is on study leave, the ANLCA boss called for peace among Nigeria customs brokers, freight forwarders and the Nigerian maritime industry, saying withiout peace, the industry and the country will not realise its huge potentials.
The message reads in part: “As we go holidaying for the Easter celebrations, I find it imperative to rub minds with all licensed customs brokers, freight forwarders and colleagues in the total logistics chain in Nigeria.
“Apart from being symbolic in many ways, Easter celebration also signifies a lot for mankind in different spheres – peace, sacrifice, loyalty, politics, economy and social areas.
“Potentials of a peaceful Nigeria are limitless and whenever or wherever peace is lost, the results includes instability and lack of a cohesive direction.
“Let’s not allow the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to redeem mankind, His loyalty to the cause for which He was sent, His example to us to pay our taxes ( giving to Caesar what belongs Caesar) and the fellowship with others through the last supper, to be lost on us as we celebrate.
“He also promoted peace when he stopped Peter from trying to resist His arrest and miraculously reinstated a chopped off ear during the period . This was good of example peace, love and tolerance.
“Let’s also also not get tired of praying for Nigeria, especially in the area of security and pray fervently for the release of our fellow countrymen and women being held by terrorists.”
Chief Nwabunike, also known as Iju Ozubulu, noted that the ill fated Kaduna bound train that was attacked recently came as one attack too many on the nation’s developing transport infrastructure and threatened the growing hope Nigerians have in moving cargoes from seaports to the hinterland.
He said the occurrence also sets back the anticipated seamlessness that cargoes should be moving from Lagos and Portharcourt to Kano and Kaduna states. He said that insecurity in Nigeria touches everyone in adverse ways, adding that it has driven the cost of doing business higher, increased time spent, reduced returns on investments and affected the joy of many.
According to Chief Nwabunike, the Nigerian ports are not are not properly utilised if import and export cargoes suffer clogs in the logistics chain. “From the farmer of export produce ,whose field is occupied by terrorists to the dockworkers waiting to assist in the loading and unloading of cargoes, we are all involved.
“Our collective interest is in the cargo because from it government revenue is gotten, remuneration for employees made, service charges collected and profit from warehousing and sales are obtained.
“With these in mind, I call on the government, especially politicians at the helm of affairs, not to be subsumed by the hysteria of present campaigns and forget that some citizens are away with kidnappers this Easter season.
“Let’s supplicate for victory from God in favour of our armed forces who stay awake and alert at all times to keep us safe. Their victory is our safety
“We are entitled to being happy because we are part of a blessed country,whose true potentials are yet to be fully harnessed for collective benefits,” Chief Nwabunike said.
The ANLCA boss further said that “while we (Christians) are rounding off our fasting, our Muslim brethren are continuing with the prayer chain. Let’s hold on to the lessons from Christ this season and always.
“Sacrifice and self denial, loyalty to the state, performing our civic responsibilities, loving ourselves, socializing with decency and looking up to God always should be paramount.
“I am optimistic of being part of a united, peaceful, economically viable and very progressive Nigeria. Let’s aim at these with the fear of God,” Chief Nwabunike stated.
