Ongoing reforms at NPA designed to drive ease of doing business at ports—Usman
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has once more explained that ongoing strategic reforms at the ports operations are designed to deepen ease of doing business and drive efficiency in revenue generation.
Speaking at the tenth anniversary of NIMPORT annual maritime conference on Wednesday in Lagos, Usman, represented by the Asst. General Manager, Commercial and Ports Promotion, Mallam Abdulrahman Lamina said “Government efforts in achieving single window Operations is to enhance swift clearance of goods which would help to encourage the growth of businesses within the ports industry”.
She stated that enhanced security profile at the port would attract sustained investments to the sector and put the country in line with the dictates of International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s regulations SOLAS and ISPS code”.
According to her, the Federal Government is working towards the deployment of top grade technologies and automation such as the already installed Command, Control and Communication and Intelligence Unit (CCCI) and the revenue Invoicing Management System (RIM) series which would ensure quick financial transactions and the blocking of revenue leakages at the Ports. These she equally identified would help enact a greater enabling environment in attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDIS).
She disclosed further that the plan of the NPA to continue collaboration with relevant establishments and foreign firms is geared towards increased bilateral trade ties for mutual benefits and building greater strength in areas of technology transfer and information sharing which would assist in the standardization of products for international market.
Usman noted that developing sustainable trade relations with nations, would create employment, build foreign exchange reserve and ultimately boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Green View Development Nigeria Ltd (GDNL), represented by the Head of Human Resources and Administration, Mr. David Agunbiade argued that it should be easy to create jobs in the Nigerian Maritime Industry especially with the high grade of natural and human resource endowments supported with a conducive all year round stable geographic and climatic conditions.
Besides, the Director, Institute of Maritime Studies at University of Lagos, Prof. Olusoji Ilori, maintained that “the Maritime Industry is key to the development of any Economy”, he therefore charged the government to endeavor to plough back heavily into the industry in order to boost the nation’s economy”.
