In a bid to continue his official visit to all the zones of ANLCA, which is aimed at presenting the newly inaugurated Exco of chapters to relevant agencies operating at their respective ports.
The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Emenike Kingsley Nwokeoji, has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to facilitating trade and enhancing Customs operations in the Southeast region, during a landmark visit to Enugu.
The timely visit led to significant commitment from the Nigeria Customs Service, who pledged to accelerate cargo clearance processes at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State, and its Command.
The Customs authorities during the visit, emphasized their intention to deepen their collaboration with stakeholders to promote a seamless business environment and reinforce Nigeria’s ease of doing business agenda at the port.
The high point of Mr. Nwokeoji’s visit was a courtesy call to His Royal Majesty, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu (Igwe Agadagidi), Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers. This visit led to robust discussions around longstanding challenges affecting the airport’s expansion, most notably, the unresolved land dispute between the Enugu State Government, the airport authorities, and the host community.
HRM Igwe Asadu did not hold back in expressing concern over internal saboteurs within the community who have consistently undermined progress at the airport. He lamented the impact of such resistance on the airport’s ability to gain global recognition and serve as a true international hub.
In his address, Igwe Asadu pledged his unwavering support to resolving the impasse. He vowed to leverage his influence to mediate between the host community and the state government. His remarks reflected a broader ambition for Enugu to emerge as a top destination for social, academic, and medical tourism in Africa, a goal increasingly tied to the airport’s development.
Mr. Nwokeoji’s visit marks a renewed era of partnership between Customs authorities, traditional institutions, and state actors in ensuring Enugu’s strategic infrastructure delivers on its full potential. With growing attention on the Southeast’s role in Nigeria’s economic future, the commitments made during the visit are expected to bring further reforms and investments in the region.
As the push to position Enugu as a regional gateway intensifies, stakeholders agreed that collaborative efforts like these, are crucial for overcoming local challenges and unlocking the state’s global promise.
