Port process manual: Amaechi pledges to support Shippers’ Council on implementation
The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that the ministry would support the Nigerian Shipper’s Council (NSC) in ensuring compliance, implementation and enforcement of the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) to reduce corruption in the maritime sector.
While speaking at stakeholders meeting organised by Nigerian Shipper’s Council in Abuja, Amaechi reiterated that the port Process Manual is expected to be one of the key indicators for the effective implementation of Executive Order 1 issued in 2017, aimed at promoting transparency and efficiency in the business environment.
According to the Transportation minister, the successful implementation of the manual would complement the modernisation of critical transport infrastructure being driven by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari through rail and port.
The Minister said “the maritime sector offers the best alternative for economic diversification as it has the potential for employment, investments, and as an outlet for the facilitation and strengthening of Nigeria’s international trade. Nigeria’s Shippers Council (NSC) is to drive the process and implementation of the Process Manual.
“I however urge regulatory authorities, operational agencies, service providers, users of shipping services and other stakeholders to support and comply with Government’s extant directives and the provisions of the NPPM.
“The NSC being the lead agency for the implementation of the Manual, shall coordinate the implementation of the Manual and ensure strict compliance with the rules. NSC also reserves the right to handout sanctions to any agency, service providers and users of shipping services for noncompliance as provided under its economic regulatory mandate.
“The Ministry shall lend its support to the NSC in ensuring compliance with the Manual by all stakeholders, not only in the implementation of the Manual but in other areas such as enforcement. ”
