Some port users under the auspices of the National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents (NCJIFLCA) has solicited for the partnership of the umbrella body of journalists covering the maritime sector of the economy, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in the fight against illegal checkpoints and other infractions in the nation’s seaports and border stations.
NCJIFLCA maintained that the challenge to eliminate illegal checkpoints set up by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other agencies on the roads need the support of all critical stakeholders to ensure they are tackled headlong.
It averred that these illegal checkpoints by NCS and other government agencies were primarily designed to extort Nigerians and indirectly increase Nigeria’s cost of cost of living which has increased astronomically in recent times.
NCJIFLCA which comprises clearing agents, security personnel, and other well-meaning Nigerians, also vowed to stop illegal seizures of duly cleared consignments at the ports by operatives of NCS, especially the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) across the nation’s seaports corridors.
It affirmed that over the years, these illegalities have put Nigeria in a bad light among the comity of nations.
NCJIFLCA made this known recently when it paid a courtesy visit to MARAN International Press Centre (IPC), Apapa, Lagos. The NCJIFLCA delegation to MARAN secretariat by its President, Dr. Basil Chudi Nwolisa.
Explaining the rationale of the visit, Nwolisa stated that he was in the association IPC to seek a partnership with MARAN to help expose these illegalities and nip them in the bud.
He averred that the Nigerian port industry is currently facing numerous man-made challenges, primarily stemming from human weaknesses.
His words: “The most pressing issues include non-compliance with established rules and regulations such as the ALERT system; deliberate withholding of container deposit refunds by shipping companies; frequent arrests and seizures of containers by FOU after they been duly examined and released by authorized Customs officers and other federal government agencies in the ports; delays experienced by licensed customs agents at the hands of terminal operators; and extortion of Nigerian trucks on highways. These challenges have become an embarrassment to our country before the international trade community.”
According to him, NCJIFLCA was formed to help Nigeria and Nigerians overcome corruption in the maritime industry and on our highways. We cannot achieve this goal alone and hereby invite the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria to collaborate with us to ensure the success of this noble project.
Nwolisa promised that with this collaboration and in “the next 12 months”, every Nigerian including MARAN will be proud of what the taskforce would have achieved in this direction.
While arguing that the multiplicity of checkpoints by men and officers of NCS is not in the interest of Nigerians but for some people to enrich their pockets, he said: “If somebody brought goods, and they are examined in the ports, and they are released in the ports, what business do Customs have to stop it along the road?”
He argued that when some NCS officers see that the volume of the money that is coming out of their illegal check points is high, they will set up more so that they can maximize what they are getting from their illegal operations and if Nigerians do not stand against it, it will continue to escalate.
According to him, we are just trying to educate Nigerians and tell them that the road blocks and the checkpoints are bringing shame to us and it is also increasing the cost of goods in the market.
He gave a scenario where genuine Nigerians who transport perishable commodities across cities have been frustrated and put out of business by these illegal checkpoints created by NCS, NDLEA and other government agencies.
NCJIFLCA President used the opportunity to invite members of MARAN to the group third anniversary celebration scheduled to take place at Rockview Hotel, Festac Town on 10th December, 2025.
The third year anniversary will also feature the birthday celebration of Nwolisa, a fundraising programme, as well as the inauguration of the various chapters of NCJIFLCA.
Members of the group were officially welcomed by the three man caretaker committee of MARAN led by Pastor Tunde Ayodele.
The MARAN caretaker committee members were inaugurated shortly before members of NCJIFLCA were ushered into the IPC.
