Ports Economic Regulation: Be Steadfast, Don’t Be Intimidated by Attacks, Bello Advises Ports Task Team on Corruption

• Says NSC should adopt technology in war against corruption at ports

By Francis Ugwoke

The former Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Hassan Bello, has advised members of the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) not to succumb to intimidation and threat for fighting against all forms of corrupt practices at the nation’s ports.

Bello who reacted to the attack on the Task Team headed by an official of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) described such attack as unfortunate but advised members of the Team to forge ahead with their mission of addressing illegalities in the ports system.

Bello said the team should be steadfast, more determined in their national assignment, adding that it was not the first time the NSC was attacked for efforts to address issues of irregularities at the ports.

He said such attacks were bound to occur, as those who swindle the government fight back.

Bello in an interview with SHIPPING DAY during the maritime seminar for judges organized by the NSC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) recalled that the Council had also faced such attack when it wanted to introduce cargo tracking note.
He disclosed that then it was even death threat from those who did not wish the industry well.
But he said such were the challenges in many industries when sanity is to be introduced.
Bello said, “When we were trying to introduce the Cargo Tracking Note we had it, threats by operators who swindle the government. Those are the challenges in many industries when you want to bring sanity, you want to bring order, you want to get rid of corruption . Corruption will not only stop you but fight you. But I’m sure the people we have, you know the management of Nigerian shippers council will not be intimidated and that I know very very well”.

Bello called on the management team of the Council to adopt the use of technology in the fight against corruption at the ports, adding that this was the only way to address a lot of problems in the ports.

“ Management team should be steadfast. They should also incorporate technology. If you automate all the systems, digitalise the ports, then you have less problem”, he said.

The Executive Secretary of the NSC, Hon Emmanuel Jime had disclosed that the Task Team was being threatened over their efforts to address issues malpractices at the ports.
Jime recounts the ordeal of the Task Team, “We are engaged in a fight that no agency of government has ever been engaged in. We are fighting in a territory where the challenge is more than what anyone can ever imagine. The National Coordinator, Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) of our agency, Moses Fadipe, is seated here but I can tell you that there are lots of butterflies in his stomach because this guy’s life is in danger.

“The lives of Moses Fadipe and his team are in danger because they are fighting against a corrupt system that has been here for a very long time.

“Kindly help us shine light on happenings along the port corridor. We have to rid the port of the endemic corruption that has gone up to a level anybody can ever imagine.

“When I tried intervening, I found out to my chagrin that the more I get involved, the more I try not to get compromised. I was surprised that at the level of my intervention, I was almost getting into a compromised level. It’s like I was reporting someone to his benefactor. What I have decided is that we must fight this corruption at the ports. What we found out is that most of these other ranks (security officials) don’t just wake up in the morning to go and mount checkpoints. They have superior officers that they make returns to. That is why all the previous interventions done by previous administrations failed.

“This is the magnitude of the problem concerning corruption at the ports. We will fight it the best way we can. We will ensure people are held accountable for their actions and the work of the PSST will continue.”
Incidentally, Jime was economical in making public perhaps for the sake of diplomacy the identifies of those threatening the lives of members of the Task Team. When asked to give this vital information, he said, “I wish I can mention their names, but it’s entirety corruption fighting back.
“This is the magnitude of the problem concerning corruption at the ports. We will fight it the best way we can. We will ensure people are held accountable for their actions and the work of the PSST will continue.”

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