Maritime stakeholders call for FG intervention towards Eastern Nigeria ports

Some stakeholders in the maritime sector have urged the Federal Government to consider some incentives that could serve as intervention to make the seaports in the Eastern parts of Nigeria to be more attractive for port users.

The stakeholders said the current incentives provided for those using the Eastern ports are not good enough to attract port users.

It would be recalled that in June 2019, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) approved a 10 per cent discount on harbour dues in all concession terminals in the Eastern ports, in efforts to increase patronage at the harbours but the stakeholders argue that such is not enough to attract users.

During a one-day roundtable organised by the Maritime Anti-corruption Network (MACN), in conjunction with the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI), and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the stakeholders also deliberated the need to ensure effective and efficient service delivery in Nigeria’s seaports.

Speaking on the theme, “Towards Standard Operating Procedures That Works in Nigeria’s Sea Ports and Terminals,” the Chief Executive Officer of CBI, Soji Apampa, said the challenge of gratification and maritime corruption remain the bane of effective and efficient service delivery at the ports over the years, emphasizing the use of port service support portal.

Deputy Director, Complaints Unit of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Moses Fadipe, pointed out that the support portal would help to submit and track complaints, and recalled that the portal was launched in June 2017 by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

He said apart from poor infrastructure at the ports, other challenges identified include time and cost of doing business at the docks, agencies and terminal operators inefficiency, government official documentation, berthing of ships and discharge of cargo processes.

He noted that other challenges relate to the inefficiency of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) personnel that operate at the nation’s seaports.

An anti-corruption crusader, Vebek Menon, noted that so far only five cases had been reported through the portal and that the issues raised would be addressed without prejudice.