Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry have once again raised alarm over the growing cost of corruption at the nation’s ports, warning that unless collaboration between government agencies, regulators, operators, and the public is strengthened, efforts to curb sharp practices in the sector will remain fragile.
This position was emphasized on Thursday at the Maritime Anti-Corruption Awareness Campaign, which held in Lagos, organized by the Eagle Eye Transparency and Integrity Initiative (EETAII) Maritime Anti-Corruption Branch in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The campaign, which held at the Empowerment Centre, St. George’s Military Hall, Apapa, with the theme “Combating Corruption in the Maritime Industry Through Collaborative Efforts,” brought together representatives from the ICPC, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, and civil society groups.
In his welcome address, the President of EETAII, Comrade Anthony Shuaibu, noted that the organization has served as the “vigilance eyes of the Commission at the grassroots level,” standing as advocates for the voiceless victims of corruption. He revealed that the year marks the Initiative’s fifth anniversary, during which it has made “remarkable strides” in the fight against corruption through campaigns, awareness drives at seaports, and training workshops in collaboration with the ICPC.
“This is not just a battle for a few individuals; it is a collective effort to safeguard the integrity of our nation,” Shuaibu declared. “Despite our abundant resources, we are confronted by a troubling legacy of corruption that tarnishes Nigeria’s global reputation. It is essential that we protect our maritime industry—an integral gateway to our national economy—by strengthening it against this insidious threat. Prevention remains the most effective way to combat corruption, and change truly begins with us.”
He urged participants to embrace the workshop as a platform for “meaningful dialogue and actionable strategies,” stressing that the campaign must be sustained by the integrity and commitment of every stakeholder.
Delivering her keynote presentation, Mrs. Mary Omonuya, Chief Superintendent, ICPC Lagos Office, described corruption as a “storm” that can only be overcome through the power of collaboration. Using a metaphor of a ship navigating stormy waters, she noted that when stakeholders row in different directions, the vessel risks sinking, but when they row together, it reaches safe harbor.
“Collaboration reduces duplication, eliminates bottlenecks, and accelerates cargo clearance,” she said. “Imagine a container of perishable food arriving at the port. Ordinarily, due to multiple checks, conflicting demands, and unofficial payments, clearance could drag for weeks until the goods are spoiled. But with genuine collaboration between terminal operators, clearing agents, port authorities, and regulators, clearance was achieved in 48 hours. That is the power of collaboration.”
She defined corruption broadly as “monopoly of power without accountability,” noting that forms of corruption in the maritime sector include bribery, tax evasion, falsified cargo records, inflation of contracts, nepotism, and abuse of discretionary power.
Representing the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Controller Chibuzor Oguche of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command, reaffirmed the Service’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption. He said Customs continues to partner with agencies such as the ICPC and EFCC while strengthening its anti-corruption units across commands.
“The Comptroller-General of Customs has placed collaboration at the core of our reforms,” Oguche stated. “Through intelligence sharing, joint operations, and inter-agency partnerships, the Service has achieved significant progress. We are ever ready to collaborate with stakeholders to combat corruption, and this remains one of our strongest commitments to professionalism, transparency, and effective service delivery.”
On his part, Dr. Bashir Ambi, Head of Complaints Unit at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), urged stakeholders to embrace integrity and resist the temptation of “dropping something” to fast-track cargo processes. He challenged participants to personally commit to reporting corrupt demands and unethical practices to the appropriate authorities.
“Each time you compromise, you diminish yourself and erode public trust,” Ambi cautioned. “Can we as stakeholders make a collective pledge today that if asked for a bribe, we will report it? That is the only way to set a new record in this industry.”
The event ended with a strong call for participants to take ownership of the anti-corruption campaign by rejecting inducements, reporting infractions, and supporting reforms aimed at transparency and accountability in maritime operations.
Stakeholders agreed that while the maritime sector holds immense potential for driving Nigeria’s economic growth, the fight against corruption requires courage, integrity, and above all, collaboration across board.
