THE Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has ordered freight forwarders operating at the nation’s seaports to ignore unauthorised policemen that are involved in the illegal interception of already cleared cargoes.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Mr Hassan Bello gave the order on Tuesday when the Maritime Police Command led by AIG Abdul Danwawu paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos.
According to him, these illicit activities by the police were impeding clearing processes at the Nigerian seaports.
The NSC boss reminded the stakeholders of the directive from the Inspector General of Police, IG Mohammed Adamu which reinforces the mandate of the Assist.
Inspector General (Maritime) and the Commissioners of Police in charge of Western and Eastern ports as being the police formations with primary responsibility for police operations at all ports.
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“Other men and officers of the police have no business in the interception of cargoes at the ports,’’ Hassan Bello said.
He expressed the Council’s readiness to embrace the order by the IG to address the unwholesome practices by some bad eggs in the police force.
He maintained that the NSC’s mandate as Port Economic Regulator is to sanitise the ports, ensure that costs remain reasonable and Nigeria competes with other countries in terms of best practices.
In his address, AIG Abdul Danwawu assured stakeholders that the Maritime Police Command would always seek directives from NSC when it concerns stoppage of containers.
‘‘The Marine Police Command will cooperate with NSC to make the ports meet its aspirations,” he added.
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