A decade-long anti-corruption drive at Nigerian ports has slashed complaint resolution times from up to 10 days to just a few hours, with the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) urging authorities to strengthen enforcement and sustain the gains.
MACN said its Nigerian HelpDesk had received more than 1,500 pre-arrival notifications and resolved 98 per cent of complaints. Average resolution times have dropped from seven to 10 days to between one and eight hours since 2019.
The improvements follow the introduction of the Nigerian Port Process Manual, harmonised operating procedures and inter-agency monitoring mechanisms aimed at curbing corruption, unofficial demands and delays during ship calls.
Despite the progress, MACN warned that inconsistent enforcement, outdated procedures and resource constraints continue to undermine reforms and leave operators exposed to corruption risks.
Following meetings with government agencies and shipping industry stakeholders in Abuja and Lagos, the network is calling for updated operating procedures, better data sharing and wider adoption of the Port Service Support Portal.
It is also seeking closer collaboration with the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), which has succeeded the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the country’s port economic regulator.
“The priority now is to build on that foundation by updating procedures, strengthening implementation and using data more consistently,” said MACN chief executive Cecilia Müller Torbrand.
