Our Reporter
For years the relationship between Agents, Freight Forwarders and the security agencies personnel at the Onne sea port appears to have been anything but not to have been anything but cordial.
Past and present Area Controllers, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, PortHarcourt Area II, Command, Onne, were said to have put a close tab on the importers with their agents at the port to ensure that the right was done but that was how far they could go.
An informed source had told The Value News online Magazine that at different times some agents who had been caught in the act attempting to take delivery of falsely declared consignments or concealed contraband cargoes found in clients’ Container had been arrested and detained with the help of the port police.
The declaration of a state emergency at the Onne port by Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, Comptroller General at the Onne port in 2024, over the repeated incidents of importation of dangerous drugs, including arms and ammunition through the south eastern port during the Administration of then Compt. Mohammed Bbadende, now an Assistant Comptroller General, CG, and National Coordinator, Lagos Zonal office, shows how bad the situation of things was at the port.
CP. Mike Okoh, the new Commissioner of Police overseeing the Lagos ports of Apapa, Tin-can Island, Port Multi-services Terminal Limited, PTML, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, phases I and II and the south eastern ports of Onne, Rivers Port, Port Harcourt, Delta port, Warri and Calabar port, Cross river state, who would not want that to continue but to see the agents and Freight Forwarders t turn a leaf had recently paid a visit to the Leadership of the Association of Nigerian Licenssed Customs Agents , ANLCA, at the Onne port.
The cp was said to have been accompanied on the visit by top officers from the Port Police Command,Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve center, including the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Police Station, Onne port.
There are indications that the Police Commissioner and his team had earlier visited the Leadership of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, and other Freight Forwarders Associations, to rub minds
CP Okoh, who could not hide his feelings had said that the visit to ANLCA, was on the knowledge that ‘’it is like the mother of other Freight Forwarders Associations operation at the Onne seaport. The CP, who is out to work closely with the various Agents and Freight Forwarders Associations at the Onne port had said that ANLCA, Onne Chapter, under the Leadership of Ifeanyi Isikaku, is important to the police to do their work just as the police is equally important to the Association members to go about their business at the port without harassment by ensuring that they do the right thing for continued collaboration and support for each other.
The CP had lauded Isikaku, the ANLCA, Onne Chapter Chairman and other members of the Association EXCO, for the cordial relationship that had existed between the Association and his predecessor, hence the need to extend such hand of fellowship to him to ensure total peace at the port.
In apparent response to the port CP remarks, the ANLCA, Onne Chapter Chairman, Isikaku, had expressed his heartfelt gratitude to him for the honour done to him and members of his EXCO, to be with them despite his busy schedule. The ANLCA chairman, was said to have also appreciated the Force personnel at the Eastern Marine Command for ensuring ‘’a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for the business with the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, to thrive at the Onne seaport over the years.
The ANLCA, Chairman may have taken advantage of CP. Okoh visit ‘’to reaffirm of the Association’s members readiness to continue to collaborate with the port police, and assured him of returning the visit to his Command as ‘’a mark of respect and honour to him’’.
Emeka Nwosu, Chairman, NCMDLCA, Anselm Okechukwu, NAGAFF, and Prince Obinna Ugochukwu of Association of Registered Government Freight Forwarders of Nigeria who were said to have joined the ANLCA, Chairman to receive the CP, had commended him for making out time for the visit, described as very rewarding and encouraging for them to sit up.
They were said to have assured the CP, of their unalloyed collaboration with his Command as well as to the DPO, and officers of the NPA, Police Station at the Onne seaport. Vintage Okoh.
