The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has alleged that Nigerian security agencies now board vessels at berth to harass crew members, demanding for bribes and other forms of gifts.
The agency has equally expressed dismay at the manner in which the officers have allegedly continued to extort money from trucks trying to load cargoes out of the nation’s ports.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has alleged that Nigerian security agencies now board vessels at berth to harass crew members, demanding for bribes and other forms of gifts.
The agency has equally expressed dismay at the manner in which the officers have allegedly continued to extort money from trucks trying to load cargoes out of the nation’s ports.
In a two-page document signed by NPA's Assistant General Manager in charge of Security at Western Ports; Mr. S.O Asamaige for the General Manager of Western Ports; Ms Adenike Sonaike, a copy of which was obtained by Shipping Position Daily, the NPA warned that henceforth, any officer caught in the act will be arrested and prosecuted.
According to the document with reference number WP/AGM/STY/OP/276 and which was dated 30th May 2014, the unwholesome attitude of harassing crew members for gifts by security men who board vessels portrays Nigeria in a bad light in the international community and that it poses a greater security threat to the port industry and the nation at large.
The NPA stated in the document that, "it could even discourage some vessels from calling on our ports for fear of expected attack, that is attacks from pirates and harassment for gifts from security men". "They may escape attacks from pirates, but that from security men they hardly do", the NPA lamented.
“The authority further warned that the act may lead to increase in cost of freight for cargoes coming to Nigerian ports”, it added.
According to NPA, the attitude of the security officers makes them to compromise government directives that only authorized persons, trucks and cargoes are allowed to enter and exit the port.
It says that some security challenges in the country today are traceable to this level of compromise that aids and abet criminality.
"To this end, officers caught in any act of extortion within and around the port will be arrested and prosecuted. Furthermore, their photographs will be publicly posted at the ports’ main gates as extortionists" it warned.
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