By Ranmilowo Ojalumo
The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy on Monday held an important meeting with the Nigeria Customs and the Nigeria Railway Corporation with the aim of collaborating on measures that will enhance efficiency at the ports across the country.
The trust of the meeting was deliberation to actualize initiatives that would not only open up ports but also foster seamless cooperation and trade facilitation.
A key focal point of discussion at the ,meeting which was attended by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola; Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali; Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC): Fidet Okhiria (Virtual Attendee), was the strategic integration of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology (NIIT) to bolster operational efficiency in Nigerian Seaports.
According to a joint statement issued on Monday by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigeria Customs, and signed by Ismail Omipidan, Media Aide to the Minister, Marine, and Blue Economy; and Abdullahi Maiwada, Chief Superintendent of Customs, National Public Relations Officer of customs; the meeting acknowledged the pivotal role of NIIT in actively decongesting ports, hence the Comptroller General of Customs was entrusted with the mandate to champion and prioritize cargo scanning over traditional physical examination methods.
The statement reads further that “immediate action was endorsed to rectify and optimize all existing scanners at prominent ports such as Apapa, Tincan Island, Onne, and PTML. Simultaneously, the existing mobile scanners will be strategically deployed to facilitate expeditious cargo inspections.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) pledged continued commitment to freight cargoes to Inland container depots/dry ports, a strategic move to alleviate congestion at major ports. Plans were unveiled for the efficient evacuation of containers from Port Harcourt to Aba, with future extensions envisaged for Onne Port.
“Against the backdrop of rail track construction, the NRC concurred on a pragmatic approach by agreeing to bypass the fixed scanner at Apapa. This ensures the unhindered progression of scanning process during crucial infrastructure development.
“The meeting advocated for exploring Public-Private Partnerships to oversee the installation and maintenance of scanning technology. This collaborative model aims to sustain efficiency and foster innovation in cargo inspection processes.
“The collaborative synergy witnessed in the meeting underscores the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian government to cultivate a conducive and efficient trade environment. The anticipated implementation of these resolutions is poised to positively impact port decongestion, trade facilitation, and overall operational efficiency and competitiveness”.
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