NAGAFF THREATENS INDEFINITE STRIKE OVER ALLEGED MARITIME POLiCE HARASSMENT
NAGAFF Threatens Indefinite Strike over alleged Maritime Police Harassment
By Babatunde Aremu
The 100 Percent Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike from August 31, 2026, over alleged intimidation, unlawful arrests, container detention, extortion and harassment by the Maritime Police at Nigeria’s seaports.
The group made its position known in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), dated August 2026, in which it demanded urgent intervention to address what it described as persistent obstruction of legitimate port business.
Signed by the National Coordinator of the Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, the letter alleged that freight forwarders, licensed customs agents, transporters and other logistics operators had suffered verbal abuse, unlawful arrests and detention, seizure of documents, loss of legitimate income and disruption of supply chains allegedly linked to the activities of the Maritime Police.
According to the team, previous complaints and representations made through different fora had failed to produce the desired attention or resolution, despite the alleged impact on trade facilitation and business operations at the ports.
NAGAFF argued that the alleged conduct was contrary to relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, including the Nigeria Police Act 2020, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, the Nigerian Ports Authority Act, the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and provisions of the 1999 Constitution relating to dignity, personal liberty and lawful conduct of business.
The association also cited the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business Executive Orders and the National Action Plan on Business Environment Reforms as part of the framework supporting a more efficient and business-friendly port environment.
As part of the association’s demands, NAGAFF urged the NPA Managing Director to convene an emergency meeting involving the Maritime Police, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, shipping lines, terminal operators and bonded terminals to seek an immediate resolution to the issues.
The group also called for clarity on the functions of the Maritime Police and the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports, arguing that clear delineation of responsibilities was necessary to prevent further conflict and disruption within the port system.
“We cannot take it anymore,” the group stated, warning that it would commence an indefinite strike from August 31 if the issues were not urgently addressed.
Copies of the letter were also sent to shipping lines, terminal operators, bonded terminals, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Zone A, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Maritime, the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports, NAGAFF leadership and other industry associations.
The threatened action, if implemented, could further disrupt activities across the maritime sector, coming amid ongoing efforts by government agencies and industry operators to improve trade facilitation and reduce bottlenecks at Nigerian ports.
