…..……… logistics made a lot easier
As directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Agencies operating at the seaports has been streamlined to seven, Listing the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) as the Landlord , the other approved agencies that were mandated to operate in the ports are:
- Nigerian Customs Service (NCS)
- Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
- Department of State Services (DSS)
- Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
- Port Health Authority (PHA)
- Nigeria Police
The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Usman, stated this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Wednesday. which comprises of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), operators and major stakeholders operating in the ports. This move is to formerly kick-started the process of implementing the executive order issued by acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
In 2011, there were 25 agencies at the seaports, but the government trimmed the number to six before eight more came back in 2016 to make 14. She noted that in line with the enabling business environment initiative of the government, the number of agencies had to be streamlined to seven.
Usman said, “Any agency that is operating in the ports outside of these seven agencies are not required to and they should be aware that they need to vacate whatever station they currently occupy within the ports.
She added, “We have given a directive that unauthorized personnel should vacate the ports. Only authorized personnel are allowed access. The port security has been given clear directives not to permit anybody except those that have business in the ports.“Indeed, this applies to officials that are off-duty. Only on-duty officers are permitted to be in the port location.
However, The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is required to come in as at when required.
Usman said there were six Executive Orders from the government that concerned port operations, including that against touting and bribery, adding, “We also made it clear that once any officer is caught soliciting for alms, he should be brought to our attention for necessary action.”
Also at the meeting The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, stated that the change process embarked on by Federal Government been made visible in the executive order.
“I take this opportunity to underscore the importance of this meeting; it is key to our operations. We have never had this before; the tendency is for us to say it is one of those things that come once in a while. This time around, it is going to stay because we believe that all of us should be committed to this. It emanated from the ease of doing business. We are trying to reduce time and processes in doing what we are doing and it is only when we abide by this that we can achieve it. Our being here this afternoon is to underscore the seriousness.
“The most critical thing is time and cost, for importers, these are very critical for them. Even for those of us who are operators it is critical to us. I don’t see why we should spend more time doing what we should do in less time. I don’t see why we should elongate our processes of papers and approvals, it just doesn’t make sense. This is the time for change”.
