How CEOs Are Working to Change Ports Industry Narratives, by Bello
• I feel uncomfortable, shame over Apapa gridlock
By Francis Ugwoke
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, Tuesday, said all the chief executives of the nation’s maritime sector agencies are working assiduously to ensure far-reaching reforms and efficiency in the industry.
Bello told members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers who visited him in Apapa that the media needs to accord necessary cooperation to the chief executives in their various measures to change every ugly narrative in the maritime sector.
He identified the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, his Council and others as working tirelessly to improve on trade facilitation.
Bello expressed optimism that all the problems being suffered currently in the ports would soon be a thing of the past with the efforts of government to reconstruct the roads.
According to him, once the Oshodi – Mile Two road problem is solved, the ports industry would heave a sigh of relief that issues of gridlock in Apapa have been solved.
He said, “ No matter what we do, we have to solve this problem of infrastructure, we have to have Oshodi – Mile Two road problem solved because that road is designed for evacuation and delivery. This one (Ijora bridge to Apapa road) you see is secondary. The way they are doing it (Oshodi-Mile Two road), it is going to last for a long long time. They are meticulous about it, but I hope they could speed up” .
He assured that what is being planned was to have in place “ multi-model approach to cargo delivery and evacuation, and you will see things are coming to normal”.
He added that with the individual programmes lined up by the CEOs to improve on trade facilitation in the ports, all the issues in the industry would certainly be over.
He commended MAN and NIMASA for having simulators which are among the best in the world and working hard to check piracy in the country.
He said, “There is need for you (press) to give us chance. The CEOs and the staff are working assiduously to see things are done. If you go to MAN, Oron, things have changed, they have simulators that are the best in the world. Jamoh (NIMASA DG) is treating the whole narrative about safety and this is being recognised. We (Nigeria) have just convicted some pirates for the first time, so that anti-piracy law is working.
“My main concern is safety, especially security because I want the cost of shipping to come down. There is parity between Apapa ports and the Eastern ports, why, one container from China to Warri or PH will cost more , almost twice because of security. The insurance premium is high because of war risk, so we need security to be there and Jamoh understands this”.
He also praised NPA for prioritising exports and the organisation’s plans to ensure it introduces call-up system for trucks going into the ports.
“NPA has prioritised exports. They have already instructed all the terminals to look at exports. NPA has also reduced 10 percent of the charges at the Eastern ports and that is why you see now activities are moving. There is more cargo throughput now than what you had before.
He expressed concerns about the high cost of transporting containers out of Apapa port to the mainland and other parts of the country as very high because of the gridlock, but added that it would only be a matter of time for things to change.
“NPA is coming out with electronic call-up system . The roads are going to be okay. We are going to have multi-model approach to cargo delivery and evacuation, and you will see things are coming to normal”.
“N1.2million for 20ft container from Apapa to Ikeja, that is distortion, that is extremely painful and the road is unsightly. Anybody who comes will say Nigeria is not a serious country, so the traffic situation has debased us, it has shamed us, I personally feel a lot of pains and shame for this and we have done everything. I have gone to direct traffic in that place. I have quarreled with so many people and I guess all the other agencies, so be kind and tender to these CEOs. They are really working hard. You need to see them. Everybody coming with ideas. We need to look at them and not write something that will hurt or discourage things”, he said.
On NIWA, Bello said the agency has been doing its best including the involvement of private sector to achieve good result.
“ NIWA is really looking at the private sector.. NIWA had always been like a government something but now looking at the private sector to do that”. And then of course the NRC .. they have been involved. We called them here and we discussed the movement of cargo by rail and they have stated that except now it is being closed for repair or linking the port to the new line. NITT is one something that you don’t see but now see the amount of people they have for their services. They are very articulated. We had a meeting and NITT dominated because they have fresh people. What we are working against is the system, if we don’t have these distortions, we could have done better”.
President of League, Mr Kingsley Anaroke in his speech during the visit assured that the group will continue to support the Council and other agencies in their various programmes.
Anaroke had told the Council CEO about the Centre for Maritime Journalism and Research, which is an entity registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as an NGO/LTE to serve the maritime industry and allied sectors in multi-media research .
FOLLOW US
About Post Author
