Ease of doing business: Maritime police assures NSC on facilitating none interference, unauthorized persons at port corridors

“We will always partner with right thinking people that are doing their business legitimately”

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Maritime Police Command, Lagos, AIG Olofu Adetutu, has assured of the force’s readiness to reduce the rate of human interference at the cargo clearing points, clearance of port corridors of unauthorized persons and miscreants.

The AIG who on Wednesday 29th, November 2023 received in her office a delegation from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC) led by Mr. Sarumi J. Adesina, Deputy Director Monitoring and Enforcement on behalf of the Secretary/ CEO appreciated the Council for the unrivalled support the Command has received over the years.
In a release by ASP Ehinmode Rowland, Ag. Police Public Relations Officer, Maritime Police Command, FHQ Annex, Lagos made available to Nation Update said the visit was to acquaint themselves with the AIG and also to keep her abreast of the activities of the council being one of the agencies of government established to regulate the port economy. The Council appreciated the Maritime Police Command for the seamless working relationship enjoyed and for assisting them in enforcing their mandates.

NSC he said further sought the assistance of the AIG in reducing the meddlesomeness of miscreants into business activities and intervention in reduction of cargo dwell time.

Spoke on police partnership in capacity building and sensitization of ports operators in order to facilitate trade, make the ports user friendly and ease of doing business, streamline police activities at the port as it relate to infractions, and more synergy among the security agencies.
The AIG appreciated the Council for the unrivalled support the Command has received from them over the years and for effectively discharging their role as the Port Economic Regulator.

Olofu assured that their pleas will be appropriately attended to and the results will be visible at the shortest possible time. The AIG stated further that efforts are ongoing to speed up the completion of investigations on backlog of containers placed on hold or lien by the command in order to decongest the ports.
She said, “the police stands for good. However, bearing in mind the unwholesome attitude and activities of some operators, the command will not fold it hands and allow the economy to crumble.

“We will live to our responsibilities considering the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stand on importation. We will always partner with right thinking people that are doing their business legitimately.”

Reiterating her zero tolerance for illegality, the AIG seeks for sincerity among the importers and port operators in the declaration of their cargoes as the command will not tolerate those who are bent on distorting the economy of the nation with their nefarious activities.

“We will intensify efforts at sensitizing our men through capacity building that will help enhance our capacities at ensuring innovative solutions to our current challenges”, she concluded.