Clearing Agents Decry Alleged N200,000 Extortion...

Samuel Mobolaji

Clearing agents at Lagos ports have accused the Maritime Police Command, Kam Salem House, Ikoyi, of extorting N200,000 per container, alleging that the practice is delaying cargo delivery and driving up demurrage costs.

Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, an affected clearing agent, who requested anonymity, claimed that despite being aware of the situation, the Nigerian Shippers Council remains powerless. He lamented that shipping companies and terminal operators are profiting from the prolonged cargo delays through excessive demurrage charges.

Earlier this month, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 100 per cent Compliance Team also raised concerns over alleged police extortion of N1 million per container. The group accused officers from the Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, of indiscriminately seizing and detaining containers.

Detailing the alleged scheme, a clearing agent explained that maritime police obtain shipping manifests from shipping companies and issue directives preventing the release of containers. He claimed that six of his containers had been blocked this month alone at various terminals, including ONE Shipping Company, CMA CGM, and Port & Cargo Terminal.

“These containers have already been cleared by all relevant agencies, including port police, NDLEA, DSS, Plant Quarantine, and the anti-bomb squad,” he said. “Yet, just as they are about to be released, the shipping company informs us that the maritime police have issued a stoppage order.”

He described the situation as frustrating, adding that agents cannot factor in unexpected police charges when quoting clients. “We work on tight schedules, and these delays increase demurrage costs. By the time you visit Kam Salem House to resolve the issue, you’ve lost two days, and your charges keep rising. After demanding N1 million, they eventually settle for N200,000 after negotiations,” he alleged.

He questioned the relevance of the maritime police in cargo clearance, stating that there is already a port police unit involved in inspections. “If they want to be part of cargo examination, they should do it inside the port rather than summon us to their office in Ikoyi,” he said.

The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Emenike Nwokeoji, also condemned the practice, insisting that maritime police have no business intercepting cleared cargo. He recalled a meeting with former AIG Maritime, Tina Ogbodo, where she instructed that only alert letters bearing her signature should be acted upon.

Nwokeoji urged affected agents to formally report cases for verification and action, noting that in the past, a shipping company staff had been prosecuted for issuing a fake alert.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Shippers Council’s Director of Regulatory Services, Margaret Ogbonna, assured that the council would investigate the latest allegations, adding, “We intervened in similar complaints before, and we will follow up on this.”

However, the Maritime Police Command has denied the allegations, calling them misleading and malicious. Its Public Relations Officer, ASP Okoi Arikpo, challenged the claims and invited journalists to visit his office for clarification.