By Godwin Oritse
ANOTHER bloody clash was  averted at the Seme border as the Association of Customs Licensed Agents (ANCLA) and National Association of Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) were up in arms against each other over the sharing of practicing fees.

The crisis situation  was brought under control by the Joint Border Patrol teams of the   Nigeria-Benin Republic Police authorities to broker a truce  as both groups were bent on a disgraceful show of supremacy.

Vanguard gathered that after two clashes between (ANCLA) and NAGAF the border patrol team  called for a truce among them.

It was learnt that the Deputy Commandant, Ola Cornelious decided to call the warring parties to a  peace parley at the Patrol mess in Seme to calm  the tension among them.

“I want the three Freight Forwarders Groups to embrace peace in their collection of Tolls at Seme Border  Post,” he said.

Vanguard also learnt that in the last two weeks, ANCLA members have attacked NAGAFF Task Force over sharing of  7% loot accrueing to the group from the tolls collected for the federal government.

ANCLA members have accused NAGAFF of reducing the import duty and ETLS to N7,000 and N3,000 respectively to get patronage.

Patrich Ozobialu, Chairman of ANCLA had insisted at the meeting that his body is the only legal entity
licensed to collect toll by Customs, saying “NAGAFF are operating illegally and therefore are touts.”

Meanwhile, Chief Ekene Ajunwa, NAGAFF Chairman countered ANCLA boss that his is a legally registered body ,stating” we must enjoy autonomy in toll collections and sharing of booty.”

It was further gathered  that prior to the crisis, ANCLA and NAGAFF used to share the 7% loot due to them from money generated for Government on 70% and 30% bases before Chief Ajunwa’s group asked for autonomy.

When ANCLA and NAGAFF were not ready to agree peacefuly, the Deputy Commandant recommended that the groups should go and  sort themselves out for seven days without working.

It was after this seven days that  it  dawn on the warring freight forwarders  to reach a compromise.
“If I see any of groups collecting tolls during the period at Seme I will arrest the fellow,” he said.

Vanguard learnt that at the end of the day the groups agreed to the suggestions by Patrol boss that each group should be collecting money from its members only.

What would have been  a bloody clash at Smem border was averted after the border patrol team’s intervention.