Port Police Prosecute 20 Over Stowaway Cases, Cite Operational Challenges

By Samuel Egbewole 

The Port Authority Police Western Command prosecuted 20 suspects in connection with five stowaway cases between April and August 2026, the Commissioner of Police, Mrs Toyin Agbaminoja, said.

Agbaminoja, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Salihu Jimoh, disclosed this on Thursday at the quarterly meeting of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) in Lagos, themed “Simplifying Cross-Border Trade and Enhancing Ease of Doing Business at Our Ports.”

She said the five cases involved 20 suspects who were charged before Lagos Magistrates’ Courts, with some of the cases handled in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigerian Navy.

According to her, the command also recorded six stealing cases and one case of false pretence, which were pending before the courts.

Agbaminoja said the Port Authority Police, as a specialised unit, was responsible for maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, securing critical port infrastructure, protecting cargo and conducting marine policing within the waterways.

She, however, identified inadequate patrol vehicles, lack of modern gunboats and insufficient accommodation as major challenges affecting the command’s operations.

The Commissioner said only two divisions currently had patrol vehicles, adding that the available vehicles were already old.

Also speaking, the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos Seaports/Marine Command, said it cleared 1,118 arriving vessels carrying 24,378 crew members between April and August.

The command also cleared 969 departing vessels with 21,942 crew members during the period.

The Comptroller of the command, Clementina Ogbudu, represented by Officer Adeyemi Ibitoye, said 25 stowaway suspects were recorded, comprising three Ghanaians, one Beninese and one Cameroonian.

She attributed the arrests to joint operations with the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, which she said strengthened maritime security patrols in Lagos.

Ogbudu also identified inadequate office accommodation at Bakassi, Apapa, lack of a screening centre for suspects and shortage of intelligence officers at port gates among the challenges confronting the command.

She called for government support for the provision of agency buildings and a detention facility.

Meanwhile, concerns over restrictions affecting fishing activities and cargo movement featured prominently at the meeting.

*Port stakeholders at the quarterly meeting of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) on Thursday in Lagos

Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu questioned the ban on night fishing, arguing that the restriction threatened the livelihood of fishermen and could have implications for food security.

He also pointed to the financial implications of delays in port operations, noting that a ship could cost about $50,000 daily, and proposed a stakeholders’ meeting involving shipping companies, marine and port police and other relevant stakeholders along the Trinity, Tin Can and corridor areas.

He said the meeting would help address complaints of extortion and improve cargo movement.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Deep Services Ltd., Mrs Rollens Macfoy, commended the collaboration between the police and port facility security officers but called for fishermen to be included in future stakeholder engagements.

A clearing agent and Managing Director of Ocean Blocks, Mr Awonuga Oluwole, also complained about repeated stoppages of containers after customs clearance, saying some containers were delayed for two to three days while being moved to warehouses.

Similarly, Mrs Blessing Emeka of Cosco Shipping raised concerns over letters issued by maritime police to block shipments.

Responding, the Apapa Port Manager, Mr Debo Lawal, represented by Mr Kaumr Bakar, said the Nigerian Ports Authority had convened a meeting to address the issue.

He said it was agreed that the police should not block containers either inside or outside the ports.

On economic regulation, a representative of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Mr Jajere, said the agency was appointed interim economic regulator in 2014 and became fully established after presidential assent in 2026.

He said NPERA was established to strengthen economic regulation of port operations by promoting transparency, predictable charges, standard regulations and compliance with concession agreements.

Jajere clarified that NPERA’s role did not conflict with that of the NPA, which he said remained the landlord and technical regulator of the ports.

He explained that while NPA oversees the technical and landlord functions, NPERA regulates economic activities, approves charges and monitors compliance with concession agreements.

Jajere added that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy had directed the NPA to develop Inland Dry Ports, noting that infrastructure development was not within NPERA’s core responsibility.

He said the agency would, however, continue to regulate economic services and charges at the dry ports.