Seaports: Shippers Council raises alarm over police detention orders delaying cargo clearance

The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, has warned that the frequent issuance of detention orders by officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on cargoes at the nation’s seaports is worsening delays, increasing demurrage charges, and driving up the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports.

Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday at a workshop themed “Facilitating Port Efficiency: The Strategic Role of Maritime Police,” Dr. Akutah, represented by the Director of Regulatory Services, Mrs. Margaret Ogbonnah, said the practice has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s notoriously high cargo dwell time.

According to him, while clearing a containerised cargo takes only six hours in Singapore and about seven days in Lome, the same process takes an average of 21 days or more in Nigerian ports, a situation that has negatively affected the country’s global Ease of Doing Business ranking.

Dr. Akutah noted that, despite several government interventions aimed at reducing cargo dwell time, progress has been impeded by “human factors,” including irregular police interference in cargo clearance.

He disclosed that stakeholders had repeatedly reported cases of police officers placing detention orders on duly cleared cargoes, blocking their release from terminals, intimidating shipping company staff, and claiming to act on undisclosed intelligence.

“These interferences disrupt cargo dwell time, increase demurrage and storage costs for consignees, and ultimately raise the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports,” he said.

The NSC boss added that investigations often revealed that many of these detention orders were issued by officers acting without the knowledge or authorization of the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) in charge of the Maritime Police Command.

The situation prompted the Council’s engagement with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), leading to a directive in 2018 that only the AIG or specifically designated officers may issue such orders. Despite this, Akutah said infractions still occur, either deliberately or due to ignorance.

He stressed that the NSC, as the Port Economic Regulator, would continue to push for international best practices and collaborate with relevant agencies to facilitate trade and ensure smooth cargo movement.

In his remarks, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Maritime Police Command, Chinedu Oko represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Chukwuemeka Obasi said the Maritime Police serve as the security interface between maritime operations, law enforcement, and national security.

He outlined ongoing reforms structured around operational streamlining, technology integration, and stakeholder collaboration to ensure police activities enhance rather than hinder port operations.

However, he acknowledged persistent challenges such as overlapping agency functions, inadequate logistics, weak prosecution of maritime offences, and corruption, all of which continue to impact port efficiency.

The workshop, organised to strengthen synergy between the NSC and the Maritime Police, sought to enhance officers’ understanding of their roles and improve compliance with port regulations aimed at boosting trade facilitation.