Licensed Customs Brokers Blame Maritime Police For Cargo Delays , Rising Demurrage
Licensed customs agents have accused the Nigeria Police of alleged blocking containers at shipping companies, causing prolonged delays and mounting demurrage and storage charges for importers, in contravention of the Port Related Offences (Amendment) Act No. 61 of 1999 and Presidential Executive Order EO1.
In a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Lucky Eyis Amiwero, urged the Federal Government to enforce existing laws and presidential directives that restrict security agencies’ roles in cargo examination and release.
The letter recalls a series of government circulars and clarifications issued in 1999 by the then head of state, the Minister of Transport, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that limited which security agencies are authorized to operate at port examination points. It also references an SSS circular and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) directives that prohibit police participation in cargo examination, instructing police to limit their role to providing security at examination bays.
Amiwero said the Port Related Offences (Amendment) Act designates the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as the lead agency for cargo examination and establishes a one-stop process requiring written notification by NCS when other federal agencies are to be involved.
He warned that current police actions — reportedly seizing containers at shipping firms and holding them for days or weeks — violate those provisions and the intent of Executive Order EO1 on agency rationalization and ease of doing business.
The letter calls for immediate government intervention to compel compliance by the police and other agencies, citing the financial burden on importers arising from demurrage and rent charges. Amiwero attached multiple documents to the submission, including historical circulars, committee appointments and the text of the amendment act.
The letter was copied to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. .
But responding, spokesman of the Maritime Police Command, ASP Rasheed Adebayo called on the customs brokers to write directly to the office of AIG noting that it will addressed properly.
He said “This is vague and I do not have any reaction for now, however “Customs Brokers” can write a petition about the allegations to the AIG’s office, so it can be looked into and treated properly.”