The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said 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 ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye disclosed this when the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Emmanuel Jime, visited him in Abuja recently.
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.
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.
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