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By Steve Agbota
Stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector have called for an immediate resolution of challenges hindering trade facilitation in the eastern ports.
The eastern ports are synonymous with challenges bothering on bad roads, delay in vessels clearance and cargo clearance, which have hampered international trade around these ports.
Speaking at the 3rd round table discussion on Maritime Sector Reforms: “Consolidating The Gains,” Co–founder and Executive Director of Convention Business Integrity (CBI), Mr. Soji Apampa, said that there are some challenges at the eastern ports that must be addressed, adding that the setbacks at the western seaports have been addressed to a large extent.
He said there are changes in the nation’s ports in terms of cargo clearance, adding that the changes are most felt in Lagos than Eastern ports.
“The problems associated with eastern ports especially in terms of vessels clearance must be addressed in order to bring changes to the ports,” he added. He said while the eastern ports need some level of attention mostly as it affects the movement of cargoes and trade facilitation, there are severe challenges that must be tackle and improve upon to promote international trade.
He lamented that the illegal checkpoints along the nation’s port corridors disappear at night while they resurface at night, which according to him, needs urgent intervention by the regulatory agencies of the government.
Also speaking at the event Associate Director, Maritime Anti Corruption Network (MACN) Mr. Vivek Menon, in his keynote address harped on effective collaboration by maritime agencies, adding that attitude of dedication and enthusiasm has led to the many sector reforms and gains in the industry.
“Among our various global involvements and partnerships, MACN’s experience in Nigeria during these 10 years has been unique. Unique in terms of the level of commitment expressed by Maritime Agencies, the effectiveness of collaboration between stakeholders, and the uptake of procedural reforms across departments and cadres within Agencies.
“This attitude of dedication and enthusiasm has led to the many sector reforms and gains in the Nigerian maritime industry has accomplished in the last decade. This includes; publication of the Standard Operating Procedures and Nigerian Port Process Manual housed with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council,” he added.
He added that MACN Nigeria team has created the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) toolkit that is accessible online to help stakeholders identify procedures and requirements that apply during vessel and cargo clearance.
