Stakeholders engage FG, demand smooth ports operations, costs reduction

By Henry Uche

Stakeholders in the maritime sector have urged the federal government of Nigeria to remove hitches and other encumbrances inhibiting the efficiency and effectiveness of ports operations as well as reduce cost of clearing cargoes at the ports.

Drawn from freight forwarders, Nigerian shipping council, customs licensed agents, Terminal Operators, industry watchers, advocates of developments, economic analysts, Customs brokerage representatives and advisers, the media, and non state actors, they made this plea at a breakfast session in Lagos put together by Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN).

With the theme, ‘Trade Facilitation and President Tinubu’s Economic Agenda: Matters Arising’, they believe the federal government could do better to facilitate trade with sound policy formulation and reviews, aimed at improving ease of doing business at Nigerian sea ports.

They called for improvement in soft and hard infrastructure, transport connectivity to reduce cargo downtime, boost capacity of dispute resolution committee to make operations seamless. They equally charged the Nigeria Customs Service to Kick-start training and retraining at targeted stakeholders to position them better to work more productively even as Customs keep innovating and re- engineering themselves.

In a keynote address, the CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises, Dr. Muda Yusuf, explained that Nigerian sea ports alone can generate more than N12 billion alone annually if well managed. Yusuf decried the level of sharp practices perpetuated by stakeholders who are supposed to be enablers of business.

He called on all government personnel at the ports to synergize, strive and work in unity of purpose to fast track trade rather than aggravate the plights of business operators therein. “Too many cost of doing business in the ports ordinarily are not supposed to be incurred, if the right things are done at the right time and place”

In a remark, the President of MARAN, MR. Godfrey Bivbere, urged the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, not to relent in his efforts towards reengineering the Service and improving corporate governance system.

Bivbere stressed that MARAN expect nothing less than a sincere services from all stakeholders since trade facilitation and national development are critical to economic agenda of any administration.

“We found it a bit disturbing a recent rating of port efficiency tabulation where Togo topped the sub -region in areas of modernization, efficient port trade cost, vessels turnaround time, among other variables. While Nigeria boast of very large port system with huge import inflow, a sizeable chunk of this cargo is diverted to neighbouring ports owing to their efficient services; while the same cargo find their way back to Nigeria, often via smuggling”

He advised that, while the federal rejig the national revenue system and jumpstart critical fiscal measures, such should not be compressed into a too tight short term template because of its disruptive reactions.

“An improved governance culture that seriously frowns at wastages and unproductive political philandering exacerbated by official ostentatious lifestyle is highly recommend” he added.