A Customs licensed agent, Sir Tony Anakebe has applauded the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan in the nation’s maritime sector in the last 4 years saying that he had done a lot to change the fortunes of the industry so short a time.
Speaking with newsmen in his office in Lagos on Tuesday, Anakebe who is also the Managing Director of Gold-Link Investments Limited pointed out the appointment of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the Commercial regulator of the nation’s ports as the most remarkable of those achievements.
According to him,” we have been canvassing for it even when Obasanjo was the president, he never thought twice about it. It is a bold step towards the development of the maritime sector. Secondly, the empowerment of NIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) with the security of the ports, it is another big plus to the President and the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University. You see, all these are things are bold steps towards repositioning of the maritime sector in Nigeria”.
He however pointed out that the elementary parts of the industry like regulating the movement of goods inside the ports, that is the goods going out and coming into the country had not been taken care of even as he said that that was where the money lie.
He noted that if every importer pays exactly what he was supposed to pay and take his goods as quickly as he should, it would enable such importer to plan his business for the year and so from his plans, the government would make its money for the year.
“But with all these hiccups, no movement in the ports, the problems of the customs alerts, every container that comes into the country now has alert and that is the major problem we are having with the customs. All these things should be regulated and all these delay the business in the Nigerian Ports system. There should be complete checks and balances”, he stated.
He expressed his satisfaction with the planned automation of the Nigerian Ports by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) adding that if that could be operational within the next one or two years, it would make a lot of difference in the movement of goods in the ports thereby ensuring that all importers pays the exact amount directly into the government’s coffer.
“So, if they have a central database, you can plan to clear your goods in 24 hours and the goods will go. Indeed, there is an improvement by the Federal Government but more still needed to be done”, Anakebe advocated.
