Eagle Eye Transparency Initiative Launches Maritime Anti-Corruption Campaign In Lagos

Eagle Eye Transparency Initiative Launches Maritime Anti-Corruption Campaign In Lagos

R-L President of EETAID,comrade Anthony Shuaibu and a Customs representative at the event on Thursday,in Lagos

By Frank Odinukaeze

The Eagle Eye Transparency and Integrity Initiative (EETAID), Maritime Branch, has called on stakeholders in the maritime sector to close ranks in the fight against corruption, describing it as a collective responsibility critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s economy.

Speaking at the Maritime Anti-Corruption Awareness Campaign Workshop 2025 in Lagos, the National President of EETAID, Comrade Anthony Shuaibu,in his opening address, emphasized that corruption in the maritime industry continues to undermine Nigeria’s global reputation and economic growth.

The event, themed “Combating Corruption in the Maritime Industry Through Collaborative Efforts”, brought together key players across the sector, including representatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and senior officers of the Nigerian Police Force.

The EETAID President noted that the organization, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition of ICPC, serves as the “vigilance eyes” of the commission at grassroots level. He highlighted that the Initiative has, over the past five years, carried out extensive awareness campaigns, advocacy engagements, and training workshops aimed at curbing corruption in Nigeria’s ports and maritime operations.

“Corruption prevention is the most effective strategy,” he stressed. “It is far better to prevent corrupt practices from taking root than to allow them to flourish, often leaving innocent victims entangled in unethical activities. As the saying goes, change begins with us.”

He further urged stakeholders to engage meaningfully in the workshop’s interactive sessions, noting that the fight against corruption is not the responsibility of a few but a shared duty that requires integrity, vigilance, and collaboration.

The workshop also sought to provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss actionable strategies that would help strengthen transparency, reduce malpractice, and ensure Nigeria’s maritime sector fulfills its role as a reliable gateway to the nation’s economy.

Concluding his remarks, the EETAID President reaffirmed the Initiative’s commitment to giving voice to victims of corruption while sustaining its collaboration with ICPC and other agencies.

He charged participants with the campaign’s watchwords:

“Eagle Eye… Say No to Corruption. Eagle Eye… Blow the Whistle. If You See Something… Say Something.”