By Sandra Chukwunyere
Efforts to enhance efficiency and eliminate operational bottlenecks at Nigeria’s seaports received a significant push on Wednesday as the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Port Authority Police (Western) Command agreed to strengthen collaboration through intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement strategies.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Commissioner of Police, Western Port Authority Command, CP Oluwatoyin Iyabode Agbaminoja, to the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Akutah stressed that both institutions operate within the same port ecosystem, making synergy not only desirable but essential for operational efficiency and national economic growth.
He called for improved intelligence sharing and stronger stakeholder engagement, noting that closer collaboration would help reduce cargo dwell time and eliminate avoidable disruptions that increase the cost of doing business at the ports.
The NSC boss also raised concerns over the arrest of containers that had already been duly cleared by relevant authorities, warning that such actions create unnecessary delays and erode confidence in port processes.
“There must be better coordination to avoid situations where properly cleared cargo is subjected to further delays,” he said, urging both agencies to jointly review police alert mechanisms and work together to curb insecurity within the port corridors.
Dr. Akutah maintained that sustained collaboration between the regulatory and security arms of the port system would promote seamless cargo movement, strengthen regulatory enforcement, and enhance Nigeria’s port competitiveness in the sub-region.
Earlier, CP Agbaminoja described the Council as a key institution in Nigeria’s maritime governance architecture and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to providing adequate security for port users and critical infrastructure.
She assured the NSC management of the Command’s readiness to deepen cooperation in addressing emerging security threats and operational challenges within the port environment.
According to her, the Command stands prepared to support the Council in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities, particularly in dispute resolution, enforcement of lawful activities, port user protection, and monitoring of cargo movement within the port corridor.
Both institutions agreed that structured engagement and sustained collaboration would be pivotal in achieving seamless cargo operations, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and improving the overall competitiveness of Nigeria’s ports
