As part of its contributions to the development and effective service delivery at the Nigerian Ports to boost the nation’s economy, the Journalng, a Lagos based media organisation, has consistently brought stakeholders together brainstorm on how to this can be achieved. At its 4th edition held in Lagos recently, Raymond Tedunjaye captures submissions of stakeholders at the event.
The Port Community System is a critical component and the tripod upon which the survival and prosperity of the Nigeria Ports rest. This consists of the stakeholders within the port system, which include both the operators and regulators within the port corridor.
To engender an effective and efficient port community system, all hands must be on deck, as it requires joint efforts of all the players.
Speaking at a seminar themed, “The Imperative of PCS for Integration of All Players in Nigerian Port System” in Lagos recently, the Comptroller General of Customs Wale Adeniyi advocated a robust maritime stakeholders inclusion for effective port community service.
He charged relevant stakeholders in the Port community to be more involved and committed to the improvement of its efficiency.
The Customs Comptroller, who made the call at the 4th edition of the JournalNG Port Industry Town Hall Meeting, held at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, stressed that some challenges within the PCS and the application of innovative trends at ports are linked to confused tactical officials of security agencies.
His words: “Capacity building and sensitization should also include the officials at the rank and file. You would find that PCS is well understood by the elite operators and officers; but at the tactical level there isn’t this high-level understanding. This confusion leads to conflicts between these security agencies and operators”
Represented by the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, Dera Nnadi noted that the functionality of the Port Community System (PCS) will not be realized in a port environment characterized by disunity and conflicts which arise from the misunderstandings among tactical low cadre officers.
Adeniyi, who presented a paper tagged “Nigeria Customs Service “Enhancing Integration and Efficiency in Nigerian Port through the Nigeria Customs Service.
He however, lamented that Nigeria has a poor culture for collating data, stressing that the historical inadequacies of policymaking and planning have been results of incomprehensive data in Nigeria.
According to him, planning for port expansion and infrastructural developments should be guided by the available data indicating cargo throughput increase.
Meanwhile, he expressed delight that the 2023 Comptroller -General of Customs (CGC) conference themed: “Leveraging Data Analytics for Secure and Efficient Trade Facilitation in Customs Operations,” showed a change in the narrative as the nation hopes to optimize the huge opportunities in port operations via efficient collation and utilization of data.
He equally commended the federal government for approving the domiciling of a National Single Window in the Federal Inland Revenue Service, even as he observed that the Customs NICIS II system has other agencies and stakeholders but still needed to link more players in the port industry.
Despite the success story on the free flowing vehicular flow of articulated vehicles along the port corridor, the Customs Boss also harped on the need to further decongest the Lagos seaports through maximizing the use of barges for cargo movement.
Adeniyi reiterated that barging activities should be more regulatory services based rather than revenue, noting that safety of cargoes are more importance to monies collected by port operators and service providers.
He stressed the need for the review of barge operations and movement of cargoes via the waterways , as part of measures to boost trade facilitation and safety of goods.
The CGC noted that port community service should be the cardinal point of all stakeholders in the maritime industry despite the current free flow of vehicular movement along port corridors in Apapa.
According to him, the importance of a port community system will enhance physical inspection of cargoes , deployment and upgrade of software system in port operations and cargo clearance.
“The Nigeria Customs Service pioneered the movement of cargoes through the waterways. Just three months ago after clearing the roads, the service revive the use of barges “
“Barge operators are critical stakeholders in port community and movement of barges has become part of the system.
“The evacuation of cargoes through the movement of barges should be reviewed by maximizing waterways transportation in Nigeria.
“Emphasis should be based on regulatory through safety precautions rather than revenue. Customs is in the heart of operations with government revenue generation and Lagos Ports generate 70% total revenue for the government, therefore cargo movement must be seamless.” Adeniyi stressed.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director of Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited Ope Babalola disclosed that the glitches currently experienced by port users with the server of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will soon be over, as the service provider Webb Frontline Nigeria Limited has begun moves to partner Starlink owned by Elon Musk for increased port efficiency through the use of faster and reliable internet connectivity.
According to him, the company enjoys a cordial and robust relationship with the NCS and has always been committed in working for the success of the customs through revenue collection and prevention of loses
While delivering a paper on the Port Community System (PCS) ,Babalola lauded President Bola Tinubu’s moves to establish a National Single Window (NSW) is a laudable step that will benefit the country in many ways
He added that the PCS can run under the single window conveniently targeting port users primarily with a view to achieving better inclusion of all stakeholders in the environment.
Babalola called on stakeholders to support the PCS initiative in furtherance to boost port operations, even as he harped on regularly town hall meeting that will aid trade facilitation and seamless cargo clearance.
While soliciting for balance of trade, the Webb Fortaine boss affirmed that exporters should be encouraged to facilitate trade through seamless operations for cargo movement.
“Nigeria has so much trade data but we are not using it. Therefore there should be seamless collaboration between NPA and customs to promote the Port Community System PCS.
“This town hall meeting should be regulate to create more awareness about what it’s all about.
Speaking earlier , chairman of the event ,Mr. Lucky Amiwero had called on the service provider Webb Fortaine to up the ante on its server for effective and smooth cargo clearance.
Amiwero who is the President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents ( NCMDLCA) appealed to management of the Nigeria Customs Service to capitalise on training and retraining of officers on cargo clearance procedures and clearance.
He also stressed the need for both the customs and Nigerian Ports Authority NPA to collaborate as part of measures to promote seamless trade.