• ‘Drug trafficking through ports threatens Nigeria’s trade reputation’

Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has intensified efforts to dismantle illegal checkpoints along Nigeria’s port corridors, prosecute officials involved in extortion, and deploy a fully integrated digital platform that will eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and reduce opportunities for corruption in government services.

The Council also announced plans to deepen judicial reforms through the expansion of Small Claims Courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms and specialised commercial courts, while preparing to launch EnableHer, a nationwide initiative designed to formalise and scale businesses operating in the informal sector.

Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Mustapha Audu, disclosed the reforms during an interactive session with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday, saying the Tinubu administration had shifted the Council’s focus from policy formulation to implementation, with measurable improvements already being recorded across government agencies.

Audu said PEBEC’s crackdown on illegal checkpoints around the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports was a sustained institutional reform rather than a one-off enforcement exercise.

According to her, previous sting operations could not lead to prosecutions because investigators lacked direct evidence linking officials to extortion.

She, however, disclosed that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), working with PEBEC, has now identified all legitimate checkpoints and commenced the installation of signboards bearing QR codes that enable truck drivers and freight forwarders to instantly report extortion, harassment and other forms of misconduct.

MEANWHILE, the Sea Empowerment & Research Centre (SEREC) has warned that Nigeria’s growing exposure to drug trafficking through its seaports is posing a serious threat to the country’s international trade reputation, economic competitiveness and investment prospects.

In its July 2026 Policy Bulletin released yesterday, SEREC said the persistent use of Nigerian seaports as transit routes for narcotics could trigger stricter cargo inspections by destination countries, resulting in longer cargo clearance times, higher logistics costs and disruptions to legitimate trade.

The organisation warned that the continued exploitation of Nigeria’s maritime gateways by international drug trafficking syndicates could undermine confidence in the country’s port system and elevate its global maritime risk profile.

According to the report, the consequences extend beyond criminality, with the country’s trade and economic interests also at risk.

SEREC further noted that maritime drug trafficking fuelled a network of other transnational crimes, including money laundering, organised crime, corruption and illicit financial flows, all of which weaken institutions, undermine national security and threaten economic stability.

To curb the menace, the organisation urged the Federal Government to move beyond a seizure-based enforcement strategy and adopt an intelligence-led approach to prevention.