By Joshua Yousouph
The Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western) Command, Oluwatoyin Iyabode Agbaminoja, has brokered peace talks among key stakeholders in the maritime sector following growing tensions over recent increases in shipping charges.
The peace meeting, which held in Lagos, brought together representatives of major freight forwarding unions, including the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), as well as officials of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
The meeting focused on addressing concerns surrounding the recent hike in shipping charges by shipping companies and the need to maintain peace and operational stability across the nation’s ports.
Speaking during the engagement, Agbaminoja urged stakeholders to embrace dialogue and avoid actions that could disrupt port activities, including protests and picketing. She warned that any shutdown of port operations would have far-reaching consequences on the nation’s economy, supply chain, and revenue generation, noting that the ports serve as critical gateways for international trade.
The police commissioner assured participants that their concerns would be addressed through appropriate channels in collaboration with relevant government agencies, particularly the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, which serves as the economic regulator of the ports. She emphasized the importance of continuous engagement, mutual respect, and cooperation among stakeholders to sustain industrial harmony.
Responding, representatives of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the freight forwarding unions commended the intervention of the Ports Authority Police (Western) Command, describing it as proactive and timely. They pledged their commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes in the interest of the nation’s economy.
The command reiterated its commitment to maintaining law and order across all port terminals, jetties, inland container depots, and bonded terminals, while supporting lawful initiatives aimed at enhancing port efficiency, trade facilitation, and investor confidence.
