Ports: Committee, Agencies Partner On Corruption

The Port Industry Anti-Corruption Standing Committee (PIACSC) has formed a pact with other agencies of government at the ports to tackle corruption.

The Co-ordinator of PIACSC, Ms. Enoch Ogenyi said this at a meeting held recently in Lagos between the committee and other agencies operating to tackle corruption at the ports.

Ogenyi said there had been cumbersome and multiple points of documentation at the ports, adding there was non-adherence to agreed guidelines on joint cargo examination by some government agencies.

She decried the use of fake clearing documents, concealment, over and under invoicing as well as underpayment of customs duty and port charges.

Ogenyi noted that there was “in ordinate desire for wealth accumulation by some officials who create unnecessary bottlenecks to enhance extortions”.

She also said there had been touting among unlicensed and fake forwarders, and frowned against multiple checkpoints, saying that even after a consignment had left the ports, it would still be subjected to multiple checks by some security agencies.

She talked about illegal charges, extortions, pilfering and illegal collection of product samples by some agencies.

Agencies at the meeting included Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).

Others are, SSS, DNI, Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Foods, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Quarantine Services.