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The National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents (NCJTF-LCA) has called on the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) to join forces in confronting the persistent compliance failures and corruption slowing Nigeria’s port operations and undermining its global trade reputation.
Speaking during a working visit to the MARAN Secretariat in Apapa, Lagos, on Thursday, November 20, 2025, the NCJTF National President, Dr. Basil Nwolisa, said the interaction was aimed at strengthening collaboration with maritime journalists while formally inviting MARAN to the Taskforce’s Third Anniversary Celebration.
The anniversary, scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Rockview Hotel, Festac Town, will also feature Nwolisa’s birthday celebration, a fundraising session, and the inauguration of NCJTF chapters nationwide.
Nwolisa expressed concern over what he described as “man-made obstacles” crippling Nigeria’s port system. He listed key issues such as non-compliance with established regulations, including repeated abuse of the ALERT system; shipping companies withholding container deposit refunds; indiscriminate arrests and seizures by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of cargoes already examined and released by authorized Customs officers; undue delays inflicted on clearing agents by terminal operators; and extortion of truck drivers along major trade corridors.
“These infractions have become a national embarrassment before the international trade community,” he said, stressing that the NCJTF was created to combat entrenched corruption within the maritime sector and along the country’s highways.
According to him, the Taskforce cannot win the battle alone and requires strong media partnership to expose malpractice, drive behavioural change, and promote compliance across the freight and logistics chain.
“We hereby invite MARAN to collaborate with us to ensure the success of this noble project.
“Your cooperation, collaboration, and consultation will be highly appreciated as we work together to restore sanity, transparency, and efficiency to Nigeria’s port system,” Nwolisa said.
He commended MARAN for its long-standing contribution to maritime reportage and advocacy, affirming that the association’s role remains critical to building a more accountable and globally competitive port environment.
Nwolisa concluded by expressing confidence that deeper engagement between industry watchdogs, regulatory authorities, and the media would help reposition Nigeria’s maritime sector for improved service delivery and investor confidence.
