Customs agents protest Marine Police disruption of legitimate trade
Customs Agents Petition Police Over Alleged Maritime Interference
By Godwin Oritse
A coalition of licensed customs agents and maritime stakeholders has formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, citing concerns over alleged interference by the Marine Police in port operations.
The group, represented by the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), accuses the Marine Police of obstructing and extorting importers of legally cleared cargoes at Lagos ports.
In a petition dated May 6, 2026, and signed by John Ofobike, a former chairman of ANLCA’s Apapa Chapter, the agents seek urgent intervention from the association’s leadership to address these issues.
Ofobike stated that for several months, the actions of Marine Police officers have escalated from lawful enforcement to harassment, obstruction, and extortion related to cargo that has already been cleared by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The petition highlights ongoing unlawful practices, asserting that goods with valid Single Goods Declarations, duty payment receipts, and Customs Release Orders are being improperly detained during the Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) processing phase at shipping companies and bonded terminals. Members of ANLCA have reported experiencing prolonged delays, often lasting hours or even days, due to illegitimate demands for documentation verification and monetary payments before their containers are released.
“This situation is in direct violation of the Federal Government’s 48-hour cargo clearance directive and undermines the statutory role of the Nigeria Customs Service as the primary agency in port operations,” the petition states.
The call for action comes amid growing concerns about the integrity of trade processes at Nigeria’s maritime entry points.
