As part of efforts to engender transparency, integrity and efficiency in port operations,the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) for Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) , Wednesday, announced that corruption at the nation’s seaports dropped significantly.
Officials from MACN disclosed this during an engagement with stakeholders in the freight forwarding sub sector of the maritime industry on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
MACN said that the move was aimed to support the SOP in furtherance to better government response on complaints regarding infractions and to demand greater compliance.
MACN also called on the stakeholders to establish standard for interaction of private participation with public officials on verifiable and comprehensive discourse.
The Anti Corruption Adviser for CBI , Mr. Babatunde Oluajo noted that the Nigerian Shippers’Council role as ombudsman has added value to port operations as economic regulator.
He added that corruption at the port has reduced by 75% in the last four years pointing out that the engagement with freight agents was set up to further sensitise them on the SOP.
The Adviser observed that both the shipping and clearing of consignments aspects of the industry have recorded tremendous drop on issues bothering on corruption.
Also,speaking at the event held in Lagos, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers ‘Council, Barrister Hassan Bello noted that the Port Service System Portal (PSSP) is an Interventions established to implement the port sector integrity plan initiative.
Bello was represented at the event by the Zonal Coordinator, South South Zone ,Mr. Ogor Izah recalled that prior to 2016 the port industry was bedevilled with corrupt practices as part of efforts to improve the perception and ranking of Nigeria in the Corruption Perception
Index (CP) of Transparency International.
According to him, the current administration
had in 2016, launched the Port Support Service Portal (PSSP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in order to improve
operations, service timelines, efficiency and accountability in the port sector.
“The Nigerian Shippers’ Council as Port Economic Regulator ,Bello said was to establish an enabling environment for all stakeholders by instituting an efficient and effective economic regulatory system
in the transport sector .
“The SOP spelt quite clearly WHO, WHAT, HOW and WHEN are responsibilities discharged to the public corporate or statutory mandate while in recent time Vice President Prof.
Yemi Osinbajo launched the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) to promote transparency eliminate bottlenecks and illegalities “, Bello said.
.
President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders
(NAGAFF ) Dr. Increase Uche affirmed that the enlightenment programme was aimed to build capacity for freight forwarders adding that stakeholders input was key to enhance port efficiency and elimination of corruption.
Uche said that MACN agenda was centred on how to sanitize the port from corruption, hence the capacity programme for freight forwarders.
Also speaking , former National President of NAGAFF , Eugene Nweke who spoke with newsmen shortly after his paper presentation , stressed that corruption starts from the government and its not limited to the agencies of the maritime industry.
Nweke said government appointment of non professional to head maritime agencies can best be described as corruption.
By Roland Ekama
