Shippers Council, Maritime Police move to dismantle illegal cargo interception rings

​By Barth Ndubuwah, Port-Harcourt

​Following intelligence reports citing unauthorized police interference as a primary driver of port congestion, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and the Nigeria Maritime Police Command have launched a collaborative effort to sanitize port operations.

​The move comes as investigations revealed a disturbing disparity in cargo clearance times, with Nigeria averaging 21 days compared to just seven days in neighboring Lome, largely due to directives from disparate police formations acting without the approval of the police high command.

​Speaking at a sensitization workshop for officers in Port Harcourt, the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, stated that the Council had escalated the matter to the Inspector General of Police.

Consequently, a new security protocol has been activated where port stakeholders are mandated to ignore any directive to detain or delay cargo that is not explicitly endorsed by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).

​Dr. Akutah, represented by Mrs. Margaret Ogbonnah, emphasized that as the economic regulator, the NSC is determined to improve the nation’s security and economic profile by building the capacity of police personnel to understand the implications of arbitrary interceptions.

​Validating the initiative, the Commissioner of Police, Eastern Ports Area Command, CP Tijani Fakai, noted that the workshop was timely for national security and economic stability. Represented by ACP Rufina Ukadike, the CP reiterated the commitment of the Maritime Police to synergistic operations that enforce the law without sabotaging the ease of doing business.

​The session included technical papers on "Police as Agent of Economic Change" and "From Security to Service," delivered by security experts and Customs officials, focusing on harmonizing security protocols with global best practices.