ICPC And Nigerian Shippers’ Council Join Forces To Bolster Anti-Corruption Efforts In Maritime Sector.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has pledged to deepen its partnership with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to enhance transparency, combat corruption, and foster capacity building in Nigeria’s vital marine and blue economy sector. The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by NSC Executive Secretary/CEO, Barrister Akutah Pius Ukeyima, MON, to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, Chairman of the ICPC, underscored the commission’s readiness to collaborate strategically with the NSC to drive economic growth by tackling corruption in the nation’s ports. “ICPC is willing and ready to work with you to ensure that Nigeria’s economy is in good shape,” Dr. Aliyu stated, highlighting the importance of empowering young workers in the port sector. “There are a lot of youths working in the ports. Whatever we can do to ensure they have job opportunities and a future, we should do it.”
Dr. Aliyu called for the integration of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) into the partnership, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts with agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to strengthen national security, facilitate global trade, and improve the ease of doing business. He also committed to supporting the NSC in enhancing personnel capacity and leveraging technology to promote transparency and enforcement across the sector.
Reflecting on past successes, Dr. Aliyu noted a significant decline in corrupt practices at Nigeria’s ports, with reported bribery incidents dropping from 266 in 2019 to just 24 in 2020, largely due to the efforts of the Port Standing Task Team. “We need that sort of collaborative work. We need the team revived,” he urged, expressing optimism that ongoing legal reforms would further enable joint efforts. He added that Nigeria’s anti-corruption strides had attracted international attention, with countries like Ukraine and Uganda studying its strategies.
In his remarks, Barrister Ukeyima reaffirmed the NSC’s dedication to sanitising the port sector, which he described as the gateway to Nigeria’s economy. He called for stronger enforcement mechanisms, enhanced data sharing, intelligence exchange, and a joint capacity-building programme to raise awareness of anti-corruption practices among port stakeholders.
This renewed collaboration marks a significant step towards strengthening institutional frameworks and promoting ethical standards in Nigeria’s maritime sector. By revitalising the Port Standing Task Team and fostering greater transparency, the ICPC and NSC aim to reinforce Nigeria’s fight against corruption, paving the way for a more robust and accountable blue economy.
The partnership is expected to not only enhance Nigeria’s global trade reputation but also create a brighter future for the nation’s youth employed in the port sector. As Dr. Aliyu concluded, “With our mandate to prevent corruption, we can achieve a lot together in terms of accountability and transparency.”
