ANLCA Warns Nigeria Is Losing Billions as Airport Customs Brokers Secretariat Remains Closed
ANLCA Warns Nigeria Is Losing Billions as Airport Customs Brokers Secretariat Remains Closed
Customs brokers under the umbrella of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) have raised alarm that the prolonged closure of their secretariat at the international airport is costing the nation significant revenue and disrupting cargo operations.
Addressing maritime reporters in Lagos, the Western Zonal Coordinator of ANLCA, Mr. Femi Anifowoshe, said the association’s airport secretariat has been shut for nearly a year, denying brokers a proper operational base and hindering efficient cargo clearance.
Anifowoshe explained that the closure, which followed an internal dispute and subsequent refusal by the airport’s police command to hand over the facility’s keys, has disrupted daily logistics planning and service coordination for licensed customs brokers.
“Without access to the secretariat, customs brokers cannot settle and coordinate effectively at the airport. When brokers are hindered, the country loses revenue from customs operations,” he said, stressing that the situation also affects brokers’ incomes and the smooth flow of import and export procedures.
The coordinators appealed to the Inspector‑General of Police, Tunji Disu, to intervene and compel the handover of the secretariat so that customs brokers can resume full operations.
Industry observers note that inefficiencies in cargo clearance and restricted access to key operational facilities like the secretariat can undermine Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional air freight and dampen investor confidence. Analysts highlight that the cumulative effect of such disruptions contributes to substantial monthly revenue losses for the aviation logistics sector, which plays a vital role in trade and national revenue generation.
