In the quest to cultivate a conducive and efficient trade environment at the nation’s seaports, a pivotal strategic meeting was held at the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy on Monday between the Hon. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy:, Gboyega Oyetola, Hon. Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC): Fidet Okhiria who attended virtually.
The primary thrust of this collaborative venture was to deliberate and actualize initiatives that would not only open up ports but also foster seamless cooperation and trade and facilitation. A key focal point of discussion was the strategic integration of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology (NIIT) to bolster operational efficiency in Nigerian Seaports.
At the end of the meeting they arrived at some resolutions.
They acknowledged the pivotal role of NIIT in actively decongesting ports and entrusted the Comptroller General of Customs with the mandate to champion and prioritize cargo scanning over traditional physical examination methods.
Immediate action was endorsed to rectify and optimize all existing scanners at prominent ports such as Apapa, Tincan Island, Onne, and PTML. Simultaneously, the existing mobile scanners will be strategically deployed to facilitate expeditious cargo inspections.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) pledged continued commitment to freight cargoes to Inland container depots/dry ports, a strategic move to alleviate congestion at major ports. Plans were unveiled for the efficient evacuation of containers from Port Harcourt to Aba, with future extensions envisaged for Onne Port.
Against the backdrop of rail track construction, the NRC concurred on a pragmatic approach by agreeing to bypass the fixed scanner at Apapa. This ensures the unhindered progression of scanning process during crucial infrastructure development.
The meeting advocated for exploring Public-Private Partnerships to oversee the installation and maintenance of scanning technology. This collaborative model aims to sustain efficiency and foster innovation in cargo inspection processes.
The collaborative synergy witnessed in the meeting underscores the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian government to cultivate a conducive and efficient trade environment.
The anticipated implementation of these resolutions is poised to positively impact port decongestion, trade facilitation, and overall operational efficiency and competitiveness.