The National President of the National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents (NCJTF-LCA), Basil Nwolisa, has emphasised the need for deeper collaboration with the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) to confront the persistent operational and regulatory setbacks plaguing Nigeria’s port industry.
During a strategic visit to MARAN’s headquarters in Apapa, Nwolisa outlined the Taskforce’s core mission: curbing corruption, enforcing compliance, and eliminating inefficiencies across seaport operations and major transport corridors nationwide.
He listed several recurring challenges weakening the integrity of Nigeria’s maritime trade environment, including:
- Widespread non-compliance with port regulations and the established ALERT system
- Delays and unjustified withholding of container deposit refunds by shipping companies
- Frequent arrests and seizures of already-examined containers by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU)
- Operational bottlenecks faced by Customs agents due to terminal operators
- Persistent extortion of truck drivers along Nigerian highways
“These challenges have become an embarrassment to our country before the international trade community”, Nwolisa lamented, stressing that restoring confidence in Nigeria’s maritime industry requires collective effort.
As part of his engagement, the NCJTF President extended a formal invitation to MARAN members for the Taskforce’s 3rd Anniversary Celebration, scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Rockview Hotel, Festac Town.
The event, according to him will feature:
- The inauguration of new NCJTF chapters
- A fundraising ceremony
- A special celebration marking his (Nwolisa’s) birthday
Nwolisa underscored that the Taskforce’s mandate cannot be achieved in isolation, calling on MARAN to play a pivotal role in amplifying advocacy for transparency, regulatory compliance, and operational accountability within the maritime sector.
“We hereby invite the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria to collaborate with us to ensure the success of this noble project. Your cooperation, collaboration, and consultation will be highly appreciated”, he stated.
The visit further cements NCJTF’s commitment to forging strong alliances with critical stakeholders as it intensifies efforts to restore integrity, efficiency, and global credibility to Nigeria’s maritime operations.