OPINION: Defining new values in Maritime sector

In 2013, Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) identified the ports in Nigeria as one of the flash points of corruption, and demanded urgent intervention.

To reverse this erroneously held impression, inspired by new ideas and in line with the change mantra policy of the present administration, an inter-ministerial committee made up of NPA, NIMASA, NIS, NDLEA, CRFFN, ICPC, TUGAR, BPP, UNDP, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Federal Ministry of Finance was constituted to drive the implementation of the integrity plan.

The new vision backed saw the launching of STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) AND PORT SERVICE SUPPORT PORTAL (PSSP) recently in Abuja.

According to the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Standard Support Procedures (SOP) and Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) is a collective effort of various government agencies to bring sanity in our ports. Our goal is to have an efficient service delivery, improve personnel performance, embrace change and unhindered commitment to service. “When all these are achieved within the set platform, the cost of doing business in Nigeria will reduce while sharp practices will be contained and human traffic flow at the ports minimized.”

The Minister further explained that we cannot continue to run business from the prism of our eyes but must adapt to global best practices.

“The SOP and PSSP being launched today is an attempt to change the way we do things and if these services are well managed, will jumpstart other sectors of the economy that have linkages.”

Restating the enormous contribution of this service to the nation’s maritime industry, the Vice-President, who was Special Guest of Honour ,Prof.Yemi Osinbanjo revealed that the maritime sector is key to our market recovery. The service is innovative, user friendly and the portal allows the public to assess critical information that will stimulate their businesses.

Osinbajo, while commending the agencies that came to build this window of service especially Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Port Economic Regulator, who within the short period of time as interim regulator has shown a track record of excellence and best global practices was directed to ensure that our ports are not only efficiently run but arbitrary rates and charges coupled with sharp practices drastically reduced.

The portal at a glance displays responsibilities and functions of each agency in the value chain.

Apart from deepening consumer market and facilitating global trade, the service epitomises the economic and strategic potentials in the maritime sector and how to employ it  for betterment of the economy.

“The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) an on-line real time platform domiciled in Nigerian Shippers’ Council has been developed to afford port users an efficient service delivery, complaint and Redress System,” Prof Osinbanjo explained.

The days when maritime operators are looked down as cancerous vessels milking the economy dry is now a thing of the past.

Reinforcing the above assertion that the maritime sector is critical to the recovery of our economy the Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shipper’s Council, Hassan Bello insists that the launch of the portal is designed to stimulate the economy to bounce back. The irrefutable fact is that the sector has witnessed tremendous growth since the period of port concessioning but with the portal in place, “Maritime stakeholders are instantly directed where to route their complaints which makes the project novel. The service is not only transparent but it reduces the huge traffic witnessed at the ports which encourages sharp practices,” Bello noted.

Enumerating the inherent benefits of the project, Bello emphasised that apart from driving the sector to a sustainable turn around in the economic fortunes of the country.

Furthermore, this service delivery is not only a prerequisite for a sustainable improvement in the economy; it will also make Nigeria the maritime hub in Sub Sahara Africa.

In her remarks, the Chairlady of the project committee Barrister Azuka Ogo, Director Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, pointed out that this innovation is not only critical to the sector but will nurture and grow the economy as sharp practices will be reduced.

“A sector that accounts for more than 90 percent of our global trade with huge employment opportunities and at least six functional sea ports requires high corporate governance standards, excellent business models, quick and efficient service delivery that will scale up investment to the economy,” Barrister Ogo added.

Finally, The Federal Ministry of Transportation through its agency Nigerian Shippers’ Council has added another stimulus test, a bold initiative intended to actualise the Federal Government’s change mantra. Stakeholders in the maritime industry are of the opinion that given the high level of professionalism and expertise in Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the best is yet to come.

*****Martins Nwamadi is a Lagos based journalist.