The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Malam Habib Abdullahi has enumerated some critical areas needed to be addressed in order to accelerate the clearance of goods under the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
According to the Managing Director, cumbersome procedures and obsolete legal framework were some of the factors militating against efficient and effective clearance of goods.
Malam Habib was speaking in Lagos Monday while exchanging views with the World Bank team on support mission to the country on the implementation of the TFA.
The team was in the country to conduct sight-seeing of operational activities and available facilities at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) and the Tin Can Island Port (TCIP), with a view to identifying the gap for World Bank intervention.
Abdullahi identified the areas of the provision of Information Technology, support on intermodalism through an enhanced rail transport system and provision of training needs for the innovations that would introduce into the system.
He expressed the hope that if the World Bank could intervene on these critical areas, clearance of goods in the nation’s seaports would be more enhanced and the ports could then favourably competes with other ports in the world.
The Managing Director reiterated the need for all the agencies involved with the clearance of goods and trade facilitation to create a synergy through a single window network.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Swizerland, Ambassasdor David Adejuwon, said the team was in Nigeria in company of World Bank officials to visit border agencies and solicit for inter-border cooperation, harmonization and mutual understanding among all stakeholders.
Ambassador Adejuwon noted that the Trade Facilitation Agreement was aimed at expediting action on clearance and release of cargo at all entry points so as to reduce the cost of transactions.
He disclosed that the World Bank was prepared to assist Nigeria in the area of capacity building especially on technical matters.
Also speaking, the World Bank leader, Mr. Emmanuel Henrigoes stressed the need for the Authority to improved on its information, communication technology facility and quality of infrastructure.
Other members of the delegation include Mr. Robert Struthers, Mr. Azarema Abdukadir, an Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Mikiko Ollison of World Bank in Abuja, and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.
Present at the meeting were the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Engineer David Omonibeke and other top management staff.
Photo caption L-R Executive Director ,Marine and Operations NPA Engr.David Omonibeke ,Managing Director ,Nigerian Ports Authority ,Habib Abdullahi ,World Bank Leader Mr Emmanuel Henrigoes and the Nigeria,s Ambassador of the World Trade Organisation in Geneva ,Swizerland ,Ambassador David Adejuwon at the Visit of the World Bank team to NPA Corporate Headquarters Marina
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