ICPC says the economy Bleeding Over Corruption At Nigerian Seaports

23 Apr ICPC says the economy Bleeding Over Corruption At Nigerian Seaports

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says that Nigeria’s economy is bleeding from pervasive corruption in the cargo clearing process at the nation’s seaports.

The anti-graft agency said foreign investors have lost interest in the country due to “high level corruption”, which has created reputational damage for the country.

The Commission in a statement on its official Facebook account, said its Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed this when the Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Emmanuel Jime, paid him a courtesy visit recently, in Abuja.

Owasanoye noted that while Nigeria has the capacity to build and sustain a robust economy, its biggest challenge is the inability to block economic leakages.

He also reiterated the commission’s commitment to tackle corruption at the Nigerian ports.

The ICPC boss pledged the continued support of the Commission in fighting corruption at the ports through the joint efforts of the Ports Standing Task Team, but explained the inability to dedicate officers to be stationed at the ports full-time as the Commission does not have sufficient officers and it may end up being counter-productive on the long run.

He explained that the Commission is also in partnership with other agencies of government such as FRSC, DSS, etc, to prevent corrupt activities and promote accountability and transparency in their processes.

Speaking earlier, Jime thanked ICPC for collaborating with the NSC in the fight against corruption at the ports.

Jime explained that since the adoption of the Nigerian Ports Process Manual (NPPM), a lot has been achieved in the regulation at the ports including zero tolerance for gratification in cash and souvenirs, reduction of vessel waiting time, and the average time for resolving complaints, savings of over $6 million for the country from reduced demurrage costs.

He requested that ICPC personnel be released to serve on a special intervention task force set up by NSC to carry out investigations and other operational activities to reign in corruption at the port.