
As part of efforts to enhance the security at Western ports, the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Port Authority, Western Ports, CP Olanrewaju Ishola has opened his administration to freight forwarders under the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) for a shared role in policing.
The Commissioner of Police for Western Ports, CP Ishola, who was appointed to lead Western Ports barely three weeks ago, opened this partnership with freight agents when he visit the headquarters of NAGAFF for a familiarization visit on Wednesday.

Speaking at the meeting, Ishola described the nation’s seaports as gateway to the country’s economy, stressing that the stakes are high in the commitment to securing the port environment.
“We will provide the needed security for port business to thrive. I promise you a secured working environment and my visit today is just to familiarize with NAGAFF who are strategic partners in port operations,” the Police boss said.
In his welcome remarks, the President of NAGAFF, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, described the Apapa port as a place where freight forwarders encounter numerous problems with police officers, encouraging the new Police boss to investigate some sharp practices by policemen at the ports and along port corridors.
The NAGAFF President also argued that having a Port Authority CP at Western Ports should enable the division handle police-related challenges at Apapa port instead of the AIG Maritime’s office which is located in Victoria Island.
“We don’t know why AIG Maritime office should call shipping companies to stop containers for whatever infraction, when there is a Port Authority division within the ports. Most times, freight agents spend money and time traveling to the AIG Maritime for simple issues that could have been resolved at the ports.”

“I’m also of the opinion that your Police officers could be involved in the cargo examination at the ports in order to limit the incidents of further interceptions after goods exit the ports,” Ezisi said.
He, however, noted that NAGAFF’s tradition has always included welcoming several Commissioners of Police who eventually rise to become Inspector General of Police, referring to the immediate-past Police IG, Usman Alkali Baba as one example.
Also speaking, the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, described members of NAGAFF as law-abiding citizens and friends of the police, stressing that policemen haven’t had to arrest anyone at the association’s headquarters since it was opened in 1999.
Aniebonam assured the Police CP that the association will draw his attention to the few officers whose activities cause a breach in port operations and leave a bad impression on the police force.
The highpoint of the occasion was the decoration of the new Police CP with NAGAFF emblems and special prayers for a productive administration under the Police Commissioner.