By Tunde Ojudun
The National President of the National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents (NCJTFLCA), High Chief Dr. Basil Chudi Nwolisa, has strongly criticized key players in Nigeria’s maritime sector for practices he says are undermining efficiency and transparency.
During a courtesy visit to the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Apapa, Lagos on Thursday, Dr. Nwolisa accused certain shipping companies of unfairly withholding container deposit refunds, a move he described as exploitative toward licensed clearing agents and importers.
He also condemned the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service for repeatedly intercepting containers that had already been examined and released by authorized Customs officers. According to him, such actions create conflicting enforcement protocols and disrupt cargo movement.
Terminal operators were not spared in his remarks. Dr. Nwolisa blamed them for persistent delays and inefficiencies that continue to plague the port environment, attributing many of these issues to human-induced operational inconsistencies.
He highlighted widespread non-compliance with regulatory systems—particularly the ALERT mechanism—as a major obstacle to seamless cargo clearance.
Calling for greater media involvement, Dr. Nwolisa urged MARAN members to intensify efforts in exposing irregularities across Nigeria’s ports. He emphasized that the taskforce alone cannot achieve its mandate and called for strategic collaboration with maritime journalists.
As part of the visit, Dr. Nwolisa formally invited MARAN to the NCJTFLCA’s third anniversary celebration, scheduled for 10 December 2025 at Rockview Hotel, Festac Town. The event will feature a fundraising segment, the inauguration of new taskforce chapters, and a birthday celebration in his honour.
The engagement with MARAN is part of NCJTFLCA’s ongoing consultations with key stakeholders aimed at reforming Nigeria’s maritime landscape.