As part of efforts to ensure ports efficiency and competitiveness, the ministers of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali and Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi met on Monday and agreed that physical inspection of cargoes at the ports must be phased out.
The meeting which held at the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy also had the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Fidet Okhiria attend virtually.
While the thrust of the meeting was to deliberate and actualize initiatives that would not only open up ports but also foster seamless cooperation and trade facilitation, the focal point of discussion was the strategic integration of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, NIIT to bolster operational efficiency in Nigerian seaports
Acknowledging the pivotal role of NIIT in actively decongesting ports, the meeting entrusted the Comptroller General of Customs with the mandate to champion and prioritize cargo scanning over traditional physical examination methods.
A statement jointly signed by Ismail Omipidan, Media Aide to the Honourabke Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Abdullahi Maiwada, National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS disclosed that immediate action was endorsed to rectify and optimize all existing scanners at prominent ports such as Apapa, Tincan Island, Onne, and PTML.
It added that the existing mobile scanners would be strategically deployed to facilitate expeditious cargo inspections.
The statement disclosed that the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC pledged continued commitment to freight cargoes to Inland container depots/dry ports, a strategic move to alleviate congestion at major ports even as plans were unveiled for the efficient evacuation of containers from Port Harcourt to Aba, with future extensions envisaged for Onne Port.
“Against the backdrop of rail track construction, the NRC concurred on a pragmatic approach by agreeing to bypass the fixed scanner at Apapa. This ensures the unhindered progression of scanning process during crucial infrastructure development.
“The meeting advocated for exploring Public-Private Partnerships to oversee the installation and maintenance of scanning technology. This collaborative model aims to sustain efficiency and foster innovation in cargo inspection processes.
“The collaborative synergy witnessed in this meeting underscores the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian government to cultivate a conducive and efficient trade environment. The anticipated implementation of these resolutions is poised to positively impact port decongestion, trade facilitation, and overall operational efficiency and competitiveness”, the statement concluded.
Photo: Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, Honourable Minister of Transportation; Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs and Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy after the meeting in Abuja on Monday.
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