Shippers Councils Aims at 90 Percent Ports Digitalisation in Q2
*As Grimaldi, PTML top rating in automation
By Francis Ugwoke
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) weekend said that part of its agenda as the ports economic regulator before the end of the second quarter of the year is to improve on the digitalization level of Nigerian ports by 90 percent in all ports operations.
The Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr Hassan Bello, told newsmen during a press conference in Lagos that such automation level will boost the efficiency of the nation’s ports as can be obtained on other global ports.
Bello said this will go a long way in addressing issues of delays, corruption in the system and revenue leakages.
Noting that all the world ports are digitalized, he described human contact as could be found in Nigerian ports as dangerous, adding that it leads to delay and corruption.
He said that so far, some of the shipping service providers, particularly the shipping companies and terminal operators have done well as far in the area of digitalization while some were very poor.
The Council, he said, rated the automation level of some of the shipping companies in the first quarter as between 88 percent and 63 percent, in what the NSC described as a tremendous achievement..
In the rating, Grimaldi shipping came first with 88% compliance, Ocean Network Express – 75%, CMA CGM – 60%.
He however expressed dismay that some shipping companies were still at the level of 20 percent as far as automation is concerned.
On the terminal operators, he said PTML came first with 92% while BUA had 75%.
He expressed optimism that there would be an improvement among all the shipping companies in the second phase with integration with banks and Nigerian Customs Service.
He said this will help many customs agents as they do not have to go to the ports physically to conduct their business, adding that he will be meeting the Customs management for this purpose.
Bello pointed out the absence of scanners at the ports, adding that this was capable of affecting the port automation agenda.
He however commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for the introduction of the electronic call-up system.
According to him, “We shouldn’t forget that we have competition. Nigeria ports should be the hub in the West and Central Africa region. However, we can’t achieve this without ports that are fully automated and operate 24 hours daily. Most ports across the world are digitized. Human contact is dangerous; it brings delays and extortion.
“A port isn’t a place for contact. We are trying to achieve this 100% automation. To achieve this, we need full integration with banks, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), terminals and shipping lines, among other stakeholders.”
Bello added that the deep seaports being planned in Lekki and other parts of the country will address the challengers being faced in Lagos ports.
For instance, he said, the present ports are river ports which capacity cannot be compared with natural ocean ports.
“We know that Apapa and Tin Can are tired ports that can’t be dredged further. Ships shouldn’t stay at other nations and transship to Nigeria. It should be the other way round. The development of deep seaports such as Lekki could be a game-changer in that regard.”
Bello also said the linking of the ports with rail was a good development, adding that it will make evacuation of goods out of the ports cheaper and faster.
He also identified other multimodal approach to cargo evacuation, such as use of barges as an alternative to improve on cargo delivery.
By Francis Ugwoke
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) weekend said that part of its agenda as the ports economic regulator before the end of the second quarter of the year is to improve on the digitalization level of Nigerian ports by 90 percent in all ports operations.
The Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr Hassan Bello, told newsmen during a press conference in Lagos that such automation level will boost the efficiency of the nation’s ports as can be obtained on other global ports.
Bello said this will go a long way in addressing issues of delays, corruption in the system and revenue leakages.
Noting that all the world ports are digitalized, he described human contact as could be found in Nigerian ports as dangerous, adding that it leads to delay and corruption.
He said that so far, some of the shipping service providers, particularly the shipping companies and terminal operators have done well as far in the area of digitalization while some were very poor.
The Council, he said, rated the automation level of some of the shipping companies in the first quarter as between 88 percent and 63 percent, in what the NSC described as a tremendous achievement..
In the rating, Grimaldi shipping came first with 88% compliance, Ocean Network Express – 75%, CMA CGM – 60%.
He however expressed dismay that some shipping companies were still at the level of 20 percent as far as automation is concerned.
On the terminal operators, he said PTML came first with 92% while BUA had 75%.
He expressed optimism that there would be an improvement among all the shipping companies in the second phase with integration with banks and Nigerian Customs Service.
He said this will help many customs agents as they do not have to go to the ports physically to conduct their business, adding that he will be meeting the Customs management for this purpose.
Bello pointed out the absence of scanners at the ports, adding that this was capable of affecting the port automation agenda.
He however commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for the introduction of the electronic call-up system.
According to him, “We shouldn’t forget that we have competition. Nigeria ports should be the hub in the West and Central Africa region. However, we can’t achieve this without ports that are fully automated and operate 24 hours daily. Most ports across the world are digitized. Human contact is dangerous; it brings delays and extortion.
“A port isn’t a place for contact. We are trying to achieve this 100% automation. To achieve this, we need full integration with banks, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), terminals and shipping lines, among other stakeholders.”
Bello added that the deep seaports being planned in Lekki and other parts of the country will address the challengers being faced in Lagos ports.
For instance, he said, the present ports are river ports which capacity cannot be compared with natural ocean ports.
“We know that Apapa and Tin Can are tired ports that can’t be dredged further. Ships shouldn’t stay at other nations and transship to Nigeria. It should be the other way round. The development of deep seaports such as Lekki could be a game-changer in that regard.”
Bello also said the linking of the ports with rail was a good development, adding that it will make evacuation of goods out of the ports cheaper and faster.
He also identified other multimodal approach to cargo evacuation, such as use of barges as an alternative to improve on cargo delivery.
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