NPA boss laments poor state of regional portsCalls for synergy between public, private sectors

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Mr. Omar Suleiman, has observed the pathetic state of the African maritime industry, especially its inability to rise to the competitive level of advanced countries and called for a synergy between the public and private sectors in a bid to reverse the trend.He made the observation in Accra, Ghana, while delivering a paper on the Impact of port deregulation on the supply chain system: Nigerias experience, stressing the need for a subregional approach in the overall interest of the teeming people of Africa to ensure the growth of the economy.Pointing out that the maritime industry could serve as the sub-regional launching pad, Mr. Suleiman said it was time the various governments in the region joined hands in formulating and implementing policies that would promote comprehensive, modal integration, in addition to proffering a permanent solution to the challenges facing the sector.Noting the huge benefits Nigeria has attracted from ports concession, Suleiman enjoined other ports within the continent to emulate Nigeria, explaining that as shipping had not only continued to play a vital role in world trade, but also remained a backbone of the world economy, it was only natural that efforts be made to harness its potential in manners that would make the endowment impact more positive on the people.He counselled that more attention be paid on shipping investment.Without ships and the transportation services the world would not be as prosperous as it is today and many countries would not be able to participate in world trade, he remarked, indicating that it was for this reason that his organisation would work towards evolving a stop shop for shipping operators in the country, through a more proactive management of data.Most of the data in all the ports need to be sent to the relevant authority electronically, so that there will not be delay in cargo clearance at the port, he posited, adding that that singular gesture had the capacity to promote efficiency and security of the ports in the continent.He said the situation at the nations seaports called for a one-stop-shop that would accommodate all relevant agencies where importers and their clearing agents could go and clear their goods at the same time.He stressed that a one stop shop would stop a situation where one government agency would clear goods here and another intercept it there.He observed the need for war against corruption, adding that eradicating corruption in the port would certainly boost revenue and enhance trade facilitation.
Click here to read full news..