In a sustained effort to enhance trade facilitation and the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) at Nigerian Ports, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), acting as the Port Economic Regulator, collaborated with the NDLEA Apapa Command to successfully facilitate the release of a 1X40ft Container on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The Consignment, managed by Sharaff Shipping Agency, was released after being cleared of all suspicion regarding contraband.
The intervention followed a formal grievance filed by Sharaff Shipping Management. In their complaint, the agency reported that 1X40ft unit PIDU4412821 was discharged on January 3, 2026, at the APMT Terminal, Apapa. Although the transire process was completed and the unit was cleared for transfer to the Clarion Bonded Terminal as of January 13, the NDLEA placed an administrative hold on the box.
The NDLEA insisted that the Container be opened for a 100% physical examination at the mother terminal (APMT) prior to transfer, a move the agency argued contradicted the efficiency of groupage (consolidation) operations. Following the examination on February 4, 2026, no illicit cargo was found. However, complications arose when the Clarion Terminal updated its system to show a secondary hold placed by the NDLEA, Maritime Police, and Customs.
By the time the Council intervened, the Shipping Agency had incurred:
- Terminal Storage Charges: ₦1,285,756.00 (and counting)
- Container Demurrage/Detention: still being calculated
- Operational Delays: impacting multiple Consignees within the consolidated box.
Seeking immediate redress, the Sharaff Shipping Management Team, led by Mr. Michael Ayinde Abayomi, paid an unannounced visit to the NSC’s Complaints Unit to formally file for regulatory intervention.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has taken a hard line against maritime misconduct. Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary/CEO, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, Ph.D, the Head, Complaints Unit, Dr. Bashir Ambi, warned that any agency found in breach of standard operating procedures would face the full weight of the law. “We are committed to a transparent investigation,” Ambi remarked. “However, let it be clear: any stakeholder involved in illicit activities will be handed over to the NDLEA. We will not hesitate to enforce rigorous sanctions to protect the integrity of our Ports.”
The Council and the Shipping Agency were received by the Strategic Commander of the NDLEA Apapa Command, Mohamed Tukur. During the meeting, the NSC reaffirmed its commitment to Cargo security and stakeholder protection, ensuring that legitimate trade thrives in a safe environment. Dr. Ambi conveyed fraternal greetings from Dr. Pius Akutah to the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), applauding the agency’s strides in ridding the Maritime Sector of illicit drugs.
In response, Commander Tukur summoned the Terminal Commander for an immediate briefing. Upon confirming that the agency had concluded its legitimate inspection, he ordered the Container to be released forthwith. He noted that the Complainant’s apprehension likely stemmed from the inherent complexities of handling LCL (Less than Container Load) cargo, but maintained that NDLEA processes remain transparent.
Despite the release, Commander Tukur issued a final warning to all Maritime Stakeholders to steer clear of illicit shipments: “We will relentlessly track and prosecute anyone caught; no one will be permitted to turn our Ports into a drug hub. Narcotics are the root of all crimes, and our service is a commitment to humanity.”
The meeting concluded with a unified mandate between the NSC and NDLEA to purge the maritime industry of illicit substances while ensuring that the “gates of commerce” remain open for law abiding businesses.