Bello: Ports Process Manual Designed to Improve on Ports Efficiency
ROTIMI AMAECHI AND HASSAN BELLO
The idea of the ports access manual was part of the efforts of the federal government to improve on efficiency in the nation’s ports, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello has said.
Bello whose Council was appointed as the lead agency to oversee the Nigerian Ports Manual said the idea remains key to achieving transparency in the operations in the ports.
Speaking at a recent event involving the Transport Minister, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, the Exeecutive Secretary said there was the urgent need to ensure that the cargo dwell time was reduced from 21 days to seven days in the country as was the case in the region.
He said that the NSC was not only interested at the ease of doing business but equally at the cost of doing business.
Bello expressed optimism that the electronic call-up system being introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) would go a long way in addressing the current gridlock in the port environment.
He appealed for the cooperation of other agencies so that the ports manual can be implemented fully as this will improve on the ranking of the country in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
In a statement by the Head of Public Relations, NSC, Rekiya Zubair, the Minister in a keynote address, said the implementation of the port access manual was an enormous responsibility on the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to drive the process, adding that all agencies of government and the public should cooperate with the ports economic regulator.
The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye had on the occasion identified the agencies as powerful, adding that it was time to put the power into effective use.
Owasanoye who pledged his Commission’s support for the implementation of the NPPM, said “The agencies are not powerless, they have enforcement power, it is time to effectively use these enforcement powers”.
It would be recalled that the federal government had in December appointed the NSC as the lead agency for the implementatin of the NPPM.
With the appointment, the Council is saddled with the task of overseeing ports operations on daily basis.
Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo while launching the NPPM last year at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said implementation of the NPPM will improve the anti-corruption ranking of the country before the international community.
Speaking during the launch of the NPPM , Osinbajo said apart from achieving efficiency in pots operations, there was the need for an effective implementation of ideas that will change the perception and ranking of Nigeria in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International.
He said that the process manual was aimed at addressing vulnerabilities in the port system, adding that it will create an enabling environment for port users.
He said, “An effective successful systemic intervention in the port sector will rapidly change the narrative, the perception and the ranking of Nigeria in the CPI. The Process Manual on Port Operations is expected to be one of the key indicators for the effective implementation of Executive Order 01 issued essentially to promote transparency and efficiency in the business environment, and designed to facilitate the ease of doing business.”
Osinbajo stated that the war against corruption was one of the priorities of the government, adding that sinc e 2015 the administrtion has invested heavily to address the issues of corruption.
He described the process manual as very imperative, adding that it was “a step by step trajectory of processes at the ports”.
He added, “It outlines the actors and timelines for each process, it guides the user by highlighting all required documentation, payments, timelines, and the responsible agencies.
“It equally guides the port operator by detailing the implementation chain and provides clarity on the time required for each process. The Process Manual is expected to ensure predictability, promote transparency and accountability; reduce corruption in port processes; eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks faced by port users and reduce the opportunity for illegal demands in the ports. It is expected that the Manual will be reviewed and updated as issues and developments emerge.”
The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Ameachi, during the event assured that all the agencies under his Ministry will implement the manual for the interest of the country.
Among the stakeholders who were at the launch include the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh; the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr Muhammed Babandede and Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Mr Mamman Ahmad.
Bello whose Council was appointed as the lead agency to oversee the Nigerian Ports Manual said the idea remains key to achieving transparency in the operations in the ports.
Speaking at a recent event involving the Transport Minister, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, the Exeecutive Secretary said there was the urgent need to ensure that the cargo dwell time was reduced from 21 days to seven days in the country as was the case in the region.
He said that the NSC was not only interested at the ease of doing business but equally at the cost of doing business.
Bello expressed optimism that the electronic call-up system being introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) would go a long way in addressing the current gridlock in the port environment.
He appealed for the cooperation of other agencies so that the ports manual can be implemented fully as this will improve on the ranking of the country in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
In a statement by the Head of Public Relations, NSC, Rekiya Zubair, the Minister in a keynote address, said the implementation of the port access manual was an enormous responsibility on the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to drive the process, adding that all agencies of government and the public should cooperate with the ports economic regulator.
The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye had on the occasion identified the agencies as powerful, adding that it was time to put the power into effective use.
Owasanoye who pledged his Commission’s support for the implementation of the NPPM, said “The agencies are not powerless, they have enforcement power, it is time to effectively use these enforcement powers”.
It would be recalled that the federal government had in December appointed the NSC as the lead agency for the implementatin of the NPPM.
With the appointment, the Council is saddled with the task of overseeing ports operations on daily basis.
Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo while launching the NPPM last year at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said implementation of the NPPM will improve the anti-corruption ranking of the country before the international community.
Speaking during the launch of the NPPM , Osinbajo said apart from achieving efficiency in pots operations, there was the need for an effective implementation of ideas that will change the perception and ranking of Nigeria in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International.
He said that the process manual was aimed at addressing vulnerabilities in the port system, adding that it will create an enabling environment for port users.
He said, “An effective successful systemic intervention in the port sector will rapidly change the narrative, the perception and the ranking of Nigeria in the CPI. The Process Manual on Port Operations is expected to be one of the key indicators for the effective implementation of Executive Order 01 issued essentially to promote transparency and efficiency in the business environment, and designed to facilitate the ease of doing business.”
Osinbajo stated that the war against corruption was one of the priorities of the government, adding that sinc e 2015 the administrtion has invested heavily to address the issues of corruption.
He described the process manual as very imperative, adding that it was “a step by step trajectory of processes at the ports”.
He added, “It outlines the actors and timelines for each process, it guides the user by highlighting all required documentation, payments, timelines, and the responsible agencies.
“It equally guides the port operator by detailing the implementation chain and provides clarity on the time required for each process. The Process Manual is expected to ensure predictability, promote transparency and accountability; reduce corruption in port processes; eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks faced by port users and reduce the opportunity for illegal demands in the ports. It is expected that the Manual will be reviewed and updated as issues and developments emerge.”
The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Ameachi, during the event assured that all the agencies under his Ministry will implement the manual for the interest of the country.
Among the stakeholders who were at the launch include the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh; the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr Muhammed Babandede and Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Mr Mamman Ahmad.
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