NAGAFF Threatens Indefinite Strike Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment at Nigerian Ports
The 100 Percent Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has threatened to shut down its operations indefinitely from August 31, 2026, if urgent steps are not taken to address alleged intimidation, unlawful arrests, extortion, container detention and harassment of freight forwarders and other port stakeholders by the Maritime Police.
The group issued the warning in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), calling for immediate intervention to prevent what it described as growing disruptions to legitimate business activities within Nigeria’s seaports.
The letter, dated August 2026 and signed by the National Coordinator of the 100 Percent Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, alleged that freight forwarders, licensed customs agents, transporters and other logistics operators had continued to experience what the group described as unacceptable treatment allegedly linked to the activities of the Maritime Police.
According to NAGAFF, the alleged incidents include verbal abuse, unlawful arrests and detention, seizure of documents, container-related disruptions, alleged extortion and other actions which, it said, were causing serious financial losses to port users and creating unnecessary obstacles to the smooth movement of cargo.
The association further claimed that the alleged activities had resulted in the loss of legitimate income for operators, delayed cargo clearance and contributed to disruptions across the supply chain.
NAGAFF said it had previously raised concerns through various channels and made representations to relevant authorities, but expressed disappointment that those efforts had allegedly failed to produce a lasting solution.
The group maintained that the situation could undermine ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and port stakeholders to improve trade facilitation, reduce cargo clearance bottlenecks and create a more efficient and investor-friendly maritime environment.
In its letter, NAGAFF referenced several laws and regulatory frameworks which it said should guide the conduct of security and regulatory agencies operating within the port environment.
These include 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 relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution dealing with human dignity, personal liberty and lawful conduct of business.
The association also referred to the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business Executive Orders and the National Action Plan on Business Environment Reforms, arguing that alleged harassment of legitimate port operators was inconsistent with the broader objective of creating a business-friendly environment.
NAGAFF Demands Emergency Stakeholders’ Meeting
As part of efforts to resolve the dispute, the 100 Percent Compliance Team urged the NPA Managing Director to immediately convene an emergency meeting involving the Maritime Police, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, shipping lines, terminal operators, bonded terminals and other critical stakeholders.
The association said such a meeting would provide an opportunity for the affected parties to present their concerns, clarify areas of disagreement and develop practical measures to prevent further disruption of port operations.
NAGAFF also demanded greater clarity regarding the functions and responsibilities of the Maritime Police and the Commissioner of Police in charge of Western Ports.
According to the group, clearly defining the responsibilities of the various security and regulatory agencies operating at the ports would help reduce jurisdictional conflicts and prevent unnecessary interference with legitimate cargo clearance and logistics activities.
The association argued that port operators should be allowed to conduct their businesses within the boundaries of the law without being subjected to intimidation or actions that could unnecessarily delay cargo movement.
Issuing its strongest warning yet, the group said it would commence an indefinite strike from August 31, 2026, if the alleged issues were not urgently addressed.
“We cannot take it anymore,” the group stated, stressing that its proposed industrial action was intended to draw attention to what it described as persistent challenges confronting freight forwarders and other stakeholders at the ports.
The threatened strike could have significant implications for port operations if implemented, particularly because freight forwarders, customs agents, transporters and other logistics operators play critical roles in cargo clearance and the movement of goods through Nigeria’s maritime gateways.
A prolonged disruption could potentially affect cargo evacuation, customs processing, transportation activities and supply-chain operations, with possible consequences for importers, exporters and businesses dependent on the efficient movement of goods.
Copies of the letter were reportedly sent to several stakeholders, including shipping lines, terminal operators, bonded terminals, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Zone A, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police responsible for Maritime, the Commissioner of Police, Western Ports, the leadership of NAGAFF and other industry association.
The wide circulation of the letter underscores the seriousness with which the association is treating the allegations and its demand for immediate intervention.
The development comes at a time when government agencies and private-sector operators are intensifying efforts to improve efficiency at Nigerian ports, strengthen trade facilitation and reduce delays and other bottlenecks affecting the country’s maritime and logistics sectors.
For stakeholders, the immediate priority will be to prevent the dispute from escalating into an industrial action that could further affect port operations.
Whether the threatened August 31 strike will proceed may ultimately depend on the outcome of engagements between NAGAFF, the NPA, the Maritime Police and other relevant agencies in the coming days.
NAGAFF’s position places renewed attention on the need for clear coordination among security, regulatory and commercial interests within Nigeria’s port system, as stakeholders continue to seek a balance between effective security enforcement and the uninterrupted facilitation of legitimate trade.
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