The Maritime Police Command and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) have resolved their differences and agreed to strengthen cooperation toward smoother trade facilitation and improved business operations at the nation’s ports.
The development followed disagreements between the NAGAFF Compliance Team, led by Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, and the Maritime Police Command over the alleged blocking of containers already cleared by the Nigeria Customs Service. The association had petitioned the Inspector General of Police and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), while threatening an indefinite strike.
However, following engagements between the parties, the NAGAFF Compliance Team suspended the planned industrial action and expressed readiness to work with the Maritime Police to promote efficient freight forwarding and trade activities within the ports.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Maritime Command, AIG Ronke Okunade, disclosed this after a meeting with NAGAFF representatives and other maritime stakeholders, followed by a strategic engagement involving the Command, the NPA management and the freight forwarding association.
Okunade explained that the concerns raised by NAGAFF were largely the result of inadequate communication, stressing that the Maritime Police does not arbitrarily stop or block containers without justification.
According to her, the Command acts on complaints, intelligence and information received from stakeholders, particularly where there are indications of criminal activities requiring police intervention.
She said the engagement with NAGAFF provided an opportunity to explain the statutory responsibilities of the Maritime Police and the measures being taken to prevent criminal elements from exploiting the port system. She added that the association subsequently understood the position of the Command.
On the intervention by the NPA, Okunade said the port authority sought clarification on the issues that prompted NAGAFF to contemplate an indefinite strike. She said she subsequently directed officers under her command to desist from indiscriminately blocking containers without credible intelligence or an ongoing investigation.
The AIG, however, disclosed that some freight forwarding practitioners were under investigation, while others were facing prosecution over alleged illegal and criminal activities. She maintained that the Command would continue efforts to sanitise the maritime environment while ensuring that legitimate businesses were not unnecessarily disrupted.
Okunade, who has also engaged the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN), the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and other stakeholders, assured the maritime community of a cordial working relationship. She urged operators to conduct their businesses within the law, stressing that the police would protect legitimate interests while enforcing the law.