The Eagle Eye Transparency and Integrity Initiative (EETAII) Maritime Anti-Corruption Branch in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), recently launched a campaign in Lagos where stakeholders in the Industry were in attendance.
The theme for this year’s campaign was “Combating Corruption in the Maritime Industry Through Collaborative Efforts.”
Although, some stakeholders in the maritime industry have been raising alarm over what they described as growing cost of corruption at the nation’s ports, this made the Eagle aye Anti – Corruption calling on all consumers, service providers, general public, and relevant government agencies to collaborate towards strengthened, efforts to curb all kind of known and unknown sharp practices in the sector for robust Trade Facilitation & Ease of Doing Business in the Country devoid of transferring Nigerian cargoes to neighbouring countries for clearance denying the nation from its statutory revenue.
The awareness campaign strongly emphasized this on Thursday at the Maritime Anti-Corruption Awareness Campaign, held at the Empowerment Centre, St. George’s Military Hall, Apapa, Lagos. Key practitioners in the fight against corruption, maritime industry, civil society groups and the general public were gathered brainstorm on the menace.
Earlier, in his welcome speech, the President of EETAII, Comrade Anthony Shuaibu, noted that the organization has served as the “vigilance eyes of the Commission at the grassroots level,” standing as advocates for the voiceless victims of corruption. He revealed that the year marks the Initiative’s fifth anniversary, during which it has made “remarkable strides” in the fight against corruption through campaigns, awareness drives at seaports, and training workshops in collaboration with the ICPC.
“This is not just a battle for a few individuals; it is a collective effort to safeguard the integrity of our nation,” Shuaibu said.
“Despite our abundant resources, we are confronted by a troubling legacy of corruption that tarnishes Nigeria’s global reputation. It is essential that we protect our maritime industry—an integral gateway to our national economy—by strengthening it against this insidious threat. Prevention remains the most effective way to combat corruption, and change truly begins with us.”
He urged participants to embrace the workshop as a platform for “meaningful dialogue and actionable strategies,” stressing that the campaign must be sustained by the integrity and commitment of every stakeholder.
Also, in her keynote address, the Chief Superintendent, ICPC Lagos Office, Mrs. Mary Omonuya, analysed that corruption is like a “storm” that can only be overcome through the power of collaboration. Using a metaphor of a ship navigating stormy waters, she noted that when stakeholders row in different directions, the vessel risks sinking, but when they collaborate, it reaches safe harbor.
“Collaboration reduces duplication, eliminates bottlenecks, and accelerates cargo clearance,” she said. “Imagine a container of perishable food arriving at the port. Ordinarily, due to multiple checks, conflicting demands, and unofficial payments, clearance could drag for weeks until the goods are spoiled. But with genuine collaboration between terminal operators, clearing agents, port authorities, and regulators, clearance was achieved in 48 hours. That is the power of collaboration.”
She defined corruption broadly as “monopoly of power without accountability,” noting that forms of corruption in the maritime sector include bribery, tax evasion, falsified cargo records, inflation of contracts, nepotism, and abuse of discretionary power.
“The Comptroller-General of Customs has placed collaboration at the core of our reforms,” Oguche stated. “Through intelligence sharing, joint operations, and inter-agency partnerships, the Service has achieved significantly.
Also speaking, the head, Complaints Unit of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Bashir Ambi explained that ” I have the mandate of the Executive Secretary/CEO NSC, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, Ph.D to be here. I’ll only talk on the role of NSC Complaints Unit, I believe Eagle Eye Anti – Corruption can testified to what we do in the Complaints. Very interesting, they were in Complaints Unit wearing different clothes as complainants. They are 4 in number. We’ve done all the needful in line with our Alternative Dispute Resolution Principle (ADR), we told them instantly that their complaints against a certain terminal lacks merit. They visited the NSC twice or more, before they admitted that we are truly doing a good job. That is, we are invited to attend this program. Although, we are not told we are making any presentation, however we will Shade light on ”Complaints handling in the Industry ”
The representative of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kirikiri Lightter Terminal (KLT) Assistant Controller Chibuzor Oguche, reaffirmed the Service’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption. She said Customs continues to partner with agencies such as the ICPC and EFCC while strengthening its anti-corruption units across commands.
” Complaint is inevitable in shipping, but our primary concern is to address it to a very minimum percentage. I am happy to inform the gathering that the NSC has a robust complaints Unit, resolving only merited related commercial disputes in the Industry at no cost. Yes, free of charge with zero tolerance to gratification of any kind Can’t we emulate the routine, glaring commitment toward resolving stakeholders’ grievances at no cost, in addition to addressing other functions that has to do with our Economic Regulatory Mandate.’‘?
“Fighting corruption should be a collective responsibility, I am here because it involves Complaints Unit, and the EEATI is a witness to what we do in the unit.”
” It is when corruption is truly address, starting from our ourselves, before we can collectively try to surpassed the developed nations in terms of stress-free clearance with less formal complaints. I am happy to inform you that the NSC Dispute Resolution Unit was able to saved the economy billions of naira from January – August, 2025. I can further pin the balloon of the actual figure when I have an approval to that from my Chief Executive, the ES/CEO-NSC Akutah, Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, Ph.D”
”‘Stakeholders should come to the NSC for all their legitimate commercial infractions in the Industry at zero cost. The beauty of it and the secret behind our success is that we have the full support of the ES/CEO to only do the right thing. In addition, the Complaints handlers are officers that are bless with contentment of the minds.”
