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NPA moves against extortion rings, illegal checkpoints on Lagos port access roads

– rallies police, truckers, freight forwarders to clear man-made barriers choking cargo movement

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has launched a coordinated offensive against the web of illegal checkpoints, extortion points and inter-agency clashes that have for years strangled cargo evacuation along the Apapa and Tin Can port corridors.

In what appears to be one of the strongest institutional pushes yet to dismantle the human-made bottlenecks crippling port logistics, the Authority said it has secured commitments from security agencies, freight forwarders, truck owners and transport regulators to flush out illegal operators and restore sanity to the port access roads.

Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the NPA in Lagos on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Managing Director of the Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, said the agency had identified extortion points, operational distortions and jurisdictional overlaps among security agencies as key factors frustrating seamless cargo movement from the nation’s busiest ports.

According to him, the problems are not limited to the immediate port gates, but extend deep into the wider logistics corridor, including Berger and Mile 2, where traffic disruptions, harassment of truckers and illegal enforcement activities have continued to undermine port efficiency.

“We have problems along the port corridor in Apapa and Tin Can Island. Now, we have established that there are issues around extortion along the corridor. That is outside the port,” Dantsoho said.

He also pointed to jurisdictional rivalry among security agencies as a major source of confusion and abuse on the corridor.

“The second issue is overlap- jurisdictional overlap. In our system, what is established is that there is a police command for the port system, Maritime Police, and then there is also the Lagos State Police Command. So, in some instances, there are clashes, overlaps,” he stated.

Dantsoho, however, said the meeting produced far-reaching resolutions aimed at ending the chaos and improving coordination among all actors operating within the port corridor ecosystem.

In a major breakthrough, he disclosed that both the Maritime Police and the Lagos State Police Command distanced themselves from the illegal checkpoints and roadblocks mounted along the corridor, denying ever authorising such deployments.

“We have achieved a great lot of success in our discussions. The AIG Maritime Police has clearly stated that they do not send anybody to go and form roadblocks or checkpoints on the corridor.

“Equally, the Lagos Police Command has said the same thing,” he said.

The NPA boss described the development as a critical step toward dismantling a long-standing regime of delays, harassment and extortion that has inflicted huge costs on importers, exporters and haulage operators.

He added that all relevant agencies, including security institutions, freight forwarding groups and government bodies — had now agreed to work more closely to improve efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian ports against rival ports in the sub-region.

“Our emphasis will be that we are going to function, and then function better in our practices, so we can do better than our neighboring countries,” Dantsoho said.

He further revealed that Nigeria’s port operations within the terminals had already begun earning global recognition, noting that the country’s port system had recently been ranked among the most improved in the world by the World Bank.

Dantsoho expressed confidence that the resolutions reached at the meeting would significantly ease congestion and accelerate cargo movement along the Apapa and Tin Can corridors.

“I want to thank you for coming to support us. We have achieved a great success from this meeting.

“The discussions were of high quality, and the outcome, I believe, is also high quality,” he added.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Maritime, AIG Okunade Ronke, flatly denied allegations that the police officially deploy officers to checkpoints on Lagos port access roads, warning that any officer extorting truckers under that guise is acting outside the law.

She said the stakeholders’ engagement was productive and had produced a consensus on a coordinated framework to tackle the chronic traffic and enforcement challenges plaguing the port corridors.

According to her, stakeholders agreed to set up a joint task force involving the Lagos State Government, the NPA, the police and other key agencies to improve traffic management, eliminate extortion and ensure smoother cargo operations around Apapa and Tin Can Island.

“We have never posted officers to any checkpoint around the port environment,” she said, stressing that any officer claiming deployment from Zone 2 or the Maritime Police to mount checkpoints should be reported for disciplinary action.

Okunade said the proposed collaborative framework would also help reduce the recurring jurisdictional conflicts that have complicated enforcement and weakened accountability on the corridor.

Stakeholders at the meeting, including representatives of the NPA and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), welcomed the initiative, describing it as a long-overdue response to the extortion, harassment and operational disruptions that have become routine on the port access roads.

They agreed that a broader committee would be constituted to include government agencies, freight forwarders and transport operators, with a clear mandate to drive sustained monitoring, enforcement and compliance.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation also underscored the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, saying the port corridor crisis goes beyond traffic management and touches on security, regulation and enforcement across multiple authorities.

He noted that although illegal operators are sometimes arrested and prosecuted, only sustained cooperation among stakeholders can deliver a permanent solution to the persistent dysfunction around the Lagos port corridors.

At the end of the meeting, participants expressed optimism that the new coordinated approach would curb extortion, reduce congestion and improve the overall efficiency and security of cargo movement in and out of the nation’s premier ports.

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Customs

Customs courts Senate to amend Customs Act for enhanced operational capacity

Funso Olojo, Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called on the Senate to amend critical provisions of the 2023 Customs Act to bring Nigeria’s customs administration in line with rapidly evolving global trade practices and strengthen the Service’s operational capacity.

The appeal was made at a retreat organised by the NCS for members of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs on August 5, 2026, where lawmakers were briefed on the Service’s ongoing modernisation programme and the need for stronger legislative oversight and statutory support.

Speaking at the retreat, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, urged the lawmakers to review the legal framework governing customs administration, arguing that Nigeria’s trade laws must evolve alongside emerging trends in international commerce and customs management.

Adeniyi said effective legislative oversight could only be achieved when lawmakers had a comprehensive understanding of the changing nature of customs operations and the reforms being implemented by the Service.

He explained that the retreat was designed to bridge existing information gaps and provide members of the Senate committee with a clearer understanding of the transformation taking place within the NCS.

According to him, such understanding would enable the lawmakers to provide informed oversight and the statutory backing required to sustain the Service’s modernisation agenda.

“While some provisions had worked as intended, others had proved difficult to apply or had been overtaken by the rapidly changing trade environment.

“We are requesting considerable amendments to ensure the Act remains relevant to fast-moving trade policies and supports the Service’s modernisation agenda,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs boss stressed that although the Service currently enjoys strong support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the NCS Board under the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, lasting reforms require statutory protection that goes beyond the tenure of any particular administration.

He said legislative amendments would provide the institutional stability required to consolidate the gains of the ongoing reforms and ensure that future administrations could build on the foundation already being laid.

Highlighting the breadth of the NCS modernisation programme, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijani Abbey, outlined several initiatives being implemented to transform customs administration.

Among them are the deployment of the indigenous B’Odogwu Trade Management System, intelligence-driven post-clearance audits, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, coordinated border management and end-to-end digital process integration.

These initiatives, he explained, are aimed at improving revenue collection, facilitating legitimate trade, reducing human intervention in customs processes and strengthening national security.

The reforms are also expected to enhance transparency, improve compliance and make Nigeria’s trading environment more competitive by aligning customs procedures with international best practices.

Responding, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs, Senator Isah Jibrin, commended the NCS for surpassing its revenue targets despite the operational challenges confronting the Service.

Jibrin assured the Customs management that the National Assembly was prepared to provide the legislative support required to consolidate the Service’s achievements and address identified constraints.

“What you need to do is to identify your challenges, try to address them as much as possible, so as to have a much more robust, inclusive, and beyond-budget performance. Where you require legislative backing, please do not hesitate to call on us,” Jibrin advised.

The Senate committee chairman also congratulated Adeniyi on his re-election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, describing the feat as a reflection of Nigeria’s growing influence in global customs administration and international trade.

The retreat therefore marked a significant step towards closer collaboration between the NCS and the legislature, particularly at a time when Nigeria is seeking to modernise its trade architecture, increase revenue mobilisation and improve the efficiency of its borders and ports.

For the Customs Service, the proposed amendment of the Act is not merely about changing outdated provisions but creating a legal framework capable of supporting a technology-driven, intelligence-led and globally competitive customs administration.

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Headlines

NIMASA is committed to building world -class maritme administration- Mobereola

Funso Olojo, Editor 

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to building an efficient, transparent and globally competitive maritime administration capable of responding to contemporary industry demands.

Mobereola stated this when he received the leadership of the Alumni Association of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (AMANO), led by its President, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, during a courtesy visit to NIMASA headquarters in Lagos.

The NIMASA helmsman said the agency would continue to pursue institutional reforms, strengthen regulatory oversight and deepen stakeholder collaboration in order to advance Nigeria’s maritime industry in line with the policy direction of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

“Our vision is to build a maritime administration that is efficient, transparent and globally competitive.

“We will continue to pursue reforms that strengthen regulatory oversight, promote innovation and expand opportunities for Nigerian seafarers in line with the policy direction of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy,” Mobereola said.

He described the maritime sector as a critical driver of Nigeria’s economic development, stressing that effective collaboration among government agencies, professional bodies and industry stakeholders was essential to unlocking its enormous potential.

According to him, AMANO and other maritime associations remain important partners in shaping policies and programmes capable of strengthening the sector and creating sustainable opportunities for Nigerians.

Mobereola assured the delegation that NIMASA would sustain its engagement with relevant stakeholders while implementing initiatives aimed at improving the welfare, training, certification and employment prospects of Nigerian seafarers.

Earlier, Maiguwa commended NIMASA for the successful deployment of its electronic platform for the issuance of Seafarers’ Certificates, describing the initiative as a significant milestone in the agency’s efforts to improve efficiency, transparency and accessibility in the certification process.

He also applauded NIMASA’s strategic partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), noting that the initiatives had helped to create greater opportunities for the training, certification and employment of Nigerian seafarers.

Maiguwa, however, called for sustained engagement between AMANO and NIMASA in addressing critical issues affecting seafarers and the wider maritime industry.

He identified the expansion of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), increased stakeholder participation in maritime policy formulation and effective implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) as key areas requiring greater attention.

Other areas highlighted by the AMANO president included stronger protection for Nigerian seafarers against abandonment, the establishment of a sustainable pension framework and improved welfare packages for seafarers.

He expressed the association’s readiness to deepen its partnership with NIMASA, stressing that stronger collaboration between industry stakeholders and the maritime administration would contribute significantly to the development of a more resilient and competitive Nigerian maritime sector.

The meeting provided an avenue for both parties to exchange views on pressing issues confronting the industry, including seafarer development, implementation of international maritime instruments, stakeholder participation in policy formulation and measures to promote the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s maritime economy.

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Customs

NCS intercepts container concealing pump-action rifle parts, seizes ₦373.8m worth of cannabis products at Tincan Port

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a container concealing components of pump-action rifles and seized cannabis-infused products with a combined street value of ₦373.8 million at the Tincan Island Port Command in Lagos.

Announcing the seizures on Thursday, August 6th,2016, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the operations as a major breakthrough in the Service’s sustained campaign against the importation of prohibited items that pose serious threats to national security and public health.

Addressing journalists alongside representatives of other security agencies, Adeniyi said the seizures underscore the NCS’ unwavering commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders through intelligence-driven enforcement and enhanced risk management.

According to him, Container No. TEMU 184536/9, which arrived aboard MV VELIKA on July 8, 2026, was flagged by the Service’s intelligence-based risk management system and placed under intensive surveillance before undergoing a detailed physical examination at the Customs Enforcement Station.

The examination uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as JoJeff pump-action rifles.

The Customs boss disclosed that the recovered firearm components are currently undergoing comprehensive technical examination and inventory to determine their exact quantity and configuration.

Adeniyi further revealed that investigations extended beyond the seizure, leading to the arrest of one suspect on July 31, 2026, at the Migfo Bonded Terminal while attempting to facilitate the release of the container.

He explained that documentary evidence, financial records and telecommunications analysis established the suspect’s connection with the named consignee, including a ₦10,000 payment traced to a company account linked to the consignee on the day of the arrest.

According to the CGC, two suspects are currently in Customs custody assisting investigators, while another principal suspect remains at large and is being actively tracked by security operatives.

In a separate operation, Customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers conveying cannabis-infused products cleverly concealed alongside two used vehicles, two used pumping generators, rolls of blue polypropylene spunbond fabric, new tubular batteries and thunder arrester cables.

The seized narcotic products include:
109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies containing 8,720 pieces, weighing 17.44kg, with a street value of ₦308,792,640.
125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies comprising 740 packs, weighing 515.2kg, valued at ₦40,700,000.

Others are 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies comprising 442 packs, weighing 309.4kg, with a street value of ₦24,310,000.

The total street value of the intercepted cannabis-infused products was put at ₦373,802,640.

Adeniyi noted that the interceptions demonstrate the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks exploiting legitimate international trade channels to smuggle illicit arms and narcotic substances into the country.

He said the successful operations also validate the effectiveness of the Nigeria Customs Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy, advanced risk profiling systems and robust collaboration with sister security and law enforcement agencies.

The Comptroller-General reaffirmed the Service’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks engaged in smuggling, stressing that every individual connected to the illegal operations would be identified, apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“Nigeria’s ports will never serve as safe havens for the trafficking of illicit weapons, narcotics or other prohibited goods,” Adeniyi declared.

He commended officers and men of the Tincan Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for their vigilance, professionalism and dedication, which culminated in the successful interceptions.

The CGC also acknowledged the continued support of sister security and law enforcement agencies in safeguarding the nation’s borders.

Reassuring Nigerians of the Service’s commitment to its statutory mandate, Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service would remain resolute in securing the nation’s borders, facilitating legitimate trade and preventing the importation of prohibited and dangerous goods.

He urged members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to support the fight against smuggling and transnational organised crime, adding that the Service would keep Nigerians informed as investigations progress and the prosecution of the suspects begins.

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