In a view to resolve most of the challenges militating against trade facilitation and delay in cargo clearance from the nation’s seaports, the Advocacy for Maritime Development Association of Nigeria (AMDAN), has harped on the need for information sharing mechanism with the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) , Port Standing Task Team.
AMDAN also stressed that for the team led by its Coordinator, Moses Fadipe to engage operators within the port terminals effectively for first hand information about activities within and outside the port environment,there was the need to involve stakeholders from the logistics chain .
President of the Association, Mr. Segun Alabi who spoke with our correspondent shortly after a close door meeting with Port Standing Task Team in Lagos on Thursday, noted that members of his group had numerous complains begging for solution in the line of duty.
He said ‘We had complaints from some of our members in the clearance of cargo from the ports as regards poor services from the shipping companies, especially as it affects MSC .
“Prior to this time we have written to the liner but no response from them yet but the timely response from NPPM to grant us audience for discussion is what led to this meeting.
He also called on the NPPM to partner with stakeholders in the sector like the Advocacy group to promote port efficiency and effectiveness in the port industry.
The AMDAN President assured the coordinator of continuous and robust engagement on issues bothering on trade facilitation and cargo clearance for the ports.
Alabi commended the federal government for the appointment of an industry player to head the committee noting that the Advocacy for Maritime Development Association of Nigeria will continue to support the committee with necessary information needed for port efficiency and progress.
The President expressed optimism that the Port Standing Task Team has the technical know how to resolve some of bottleneck in cargo clearance process and procedures from the ports.
Nigerian Ports Process Manual (NPPM), Port Standing Task Team is made up of officers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Directorate of State Services (DSS).
It was charged with the primary duty of ensuring that Standard Operating Procedures were followed in carrying out transactions at the ports.
The team is to strictly carry out necessary anti-corruption activities that would help dismantle the corruption network fuelling the traffic logjam within the port area.
It is also to carry out regular operations in the ports to generate evidence-based infractions against the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) and the Ease of Doing Business Policy of Federal Government.
The Port Standing Task Team is to engage in quick enforcement actions including sting operations, on identified areas based on regular intelligence.
By Roland Ekama
