The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), has urged the Enugu State Government to build Export Processing Plant (EPP) to enhance export at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
The association made the call during the the inauguration of new leadership of ANLCA in Enugu on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that those inaugurated include Mr Fred-Chukwudi Ezinwa as the State Chairman and Chinedu Abugu as the Secretary General while other positions will be announced later.
In his acceptance speech, Ezinwa pleaded with the state government to build EPP like as it was done in Abuja and Kano to enhance export
and attract other international airlines to start plying the Enugu route.
The chairman equally lamented the six-year ban placed on the Enugu area command of the Nigeria Custom Service from receiving imported medicament.
He said the ban should be lifted considering the dangers such prohibition posed to the southeastern part of Nigeria in times of medical needs and emergency.
“It is a big irony in a state where the government is constructing the biggest medical facility in Nigeria. The ban is a big disservice to the facility and the state.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to lift the ban,” he appealed.
He further called for synergy with the customs to get templates and benchmarks for smooth and fast clearance of frequently imported goods.
“I know the challenges here are enormous ranging from low cargo to the intermittent closure of the airport, and the difficulty of having an airline.
“The problems, in our eyes, are huge but they are surmountable,” he added.
He pledged to drive progressive initiatives and restore the lost glory of the association.
Ezinwa lauded the pioneer chairman of the Enugu Chapter, Mr Chinedu Abugu, and the outgone chairman, Prince Alex Ejiamatu for being instrumental to what they were celebrating.
He promised that his leadership would continue to work hand-in-hand with members to harness their wealth of experiences in achieving objectives of the association.
Inaugurating the new executive earlier, the National President of ANLCA, Mr. Emenike Nwokoji, urged them to give in their best to move the association forward.
He appealed to members of the association to work with them to build a new ANLCA.