Only NPA has given signal to comply with FG’s EO to merge maritime operations
Barely less than one week after the Federal Government issued a sweeping Executive order (EO) directing all relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) operating at the nation’s airports and seaports to harmonise their operations into one interface station, check at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) by Business Hilights has shown total readiness to comply.
Findings in other maritime agencies showed some levels of resistance and official bureaucracy in restructuring operations to fit into an emerging truly single window platform in the seaports to push up ease of doing business.
According to the Order signed, sealed and delivered by the Acting President, Prof yemi Osinbajo, whereas agencies at the airports have 30 days to merge, those operating at seaports must do so within 60 days.
The EOs, Business Hilights learnt, was coming on the heels on the urgent need to promote Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment’ signed by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday.
By the order, the Apapa Port is expected to resume 24-hour operations within 30 days.
Key provisions of the Order read in parts “All relevant MDAs at the airports shall within 30 days of the issuance of this order merge their respective departure and arrival interfaces into a single customer interface, without prejudice to necessary back-end procedures”.
“All agencies currently physically present in Nigerian ports shall within 60 days harmonise their operations into one single interface station domiciled in one location in the port and implemented by a single joint task force at all times, without prejudice to necessary backend procedures.
“The new single interface station at each port shall capture, track and record information on all goods arriving and departing from Nigeria, and remit captured information to the head of the MDA and the head of the National Bureau of Statistics on a weekly basis.
“Each port in Nigeria shall assign an existing export terminal to be dedicated to the exportation of agriculture produce within 30 days of the issuance of this order.
“The Apapa Port shall resume 24-hour operations within 30 days of the issuance of this order.”
In keeping tab with war against corruption, the order also outlawed touting and bribe-taking by official or unofficial persons at any port in Nigeria, stressing that “Any official caught soliciting or receiving bribes from passengers or other port users, according to the order, shall be subject to immediate removal from post and disciplinary as well as criminal proceedings in line with extant laws and regulations”.
