By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are targeting a speedy structure that will enable the cleating of cargo at the ports within 24 hours.
Both agencies are currently in talks over the 24-hour cargo clearance operations ahead of the introduction of the Single Window policy.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, said that both organisations have engaged each other over this issue to make the port more efficient and cost-effective.
Mr Bello-Koko also said that this issue of 24-hour port operation could be achieved if customs can commence the shift system of work, calling for a quicker auction process of seized or overtime cargoes to decongest the ports.
He explained that with 24-hour port operations, NPA will be able to have cargoes released within the time frame in all its port locations.
He said: “We have had stakeholder engagement where we talked about the need to have 24-hour port operations and the need for us to have shifts. We have seen that that instruction has been given.
“A few ports have started implementing that. But we require that you make it a policy and send out a circular that will ensure that officers are on seat when they are supposed to be and that way we Will be able to have cargo release and so on 24 hours at all port locations.
“But so far, we have seen action has been taken and we appreciate that. But we just want it to be formalized adequately and sent to all locations. That will help us reduce the time it takes to release cargo from the pots. We have raised the issue of export with you. We have seen a tremendous increase in the percentage and quantity of export cargo. And we appreciate that.
On his part, the Comptroller General of the Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, said that the agency was ready to deepen the already existing relations with the NPA adding that bigger cooperation between both agencies will translate to a better facilitation of trade that will bring about a more efficient port system that will better grow the economy.
He also said that any desire to make Nigerian ports more competitive will be supported by the management of the NCS.
“A lot is going for us in terms of collaboration between the customs and the NPA. So, my visit today, first, is to renew our friendship. The second is to deepen the relationship between us. And third, through the projects that we want to launch, we want to see how we can strengthen the collaboration and the cooperation that has been existing between the NCS and NPA.
“What are the projected outcomes of this kind of collaboration? They are very simple. And it is something of vision alignment. NPA desires to achieve port efficiency. And we believe that in customs, port efficiency would help to facilitate trade.
“NPA, through all its programs, is trying to promote the competitiveness of our ports. This aligns with our vision because many Nigerians are diverting their things across the neighbouring ports.
“And we must do everything to ensure that our ports remain competitive so that our cargo and the economy is driven by our ports. And finally, we want to make our ports more efficient. When our ports are more efficient, it will translate into better efforts in revenue.”
“So, anything and everything that will help to reduce the time and the costs it takes to conduct business in our ports is those things that we are going to be exploring in the collaboration with NPA. And I’m happy that you have mentioned all of them.
“And if you go through all of these areas that you have mentioned, they all speak to ensuring that we have a better future. We have better ports, more efficient ports, more competitive ports, and ports that speak to our needs,” he added.
