Attempts by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to commence collection of the professional operating fee at Seme Border ignited tension on Tuesday as some operators kicked against the move.
Chairman, Seme chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Ekene Ajunwa blamed the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) for the crisis that greeted the collection.
It would be recalled that the national leadership of ANLCA had last week directed its members not to pay the professional operating fees.
“While the collection commenced on a peaceful note, three hours later, ANLCA Chairman, Mr. Patrick Omaja mobilized thugs in addition to his task force and attacked the enforcement officers of the CRFFN,” Ajunwa said in a text message sent to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY.
He claimed that the attack left the CRFFN officials and NAGAFF members “badly injured and hospitalized” while the CRFFN official coaster bus was “seriously damaged”.
Ajunwa also claimed that the CRFFN Deputy Registrar Enforcement was “taken hostage but was rescued by the combine efforts of NAGAFF chairman and his team and the police”.
SHIPS & PORTS DAILY was however unable to independently verify the claims.
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