The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
The President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike has proffered ways for the smooth implementation and success of the newly launched Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) of the Federal Ministry of Transport.
The NPPM which is conceptualised to promote transparency, accountability, predictability and eradicate corruption in the port system, Tony noted that for the past 30years of his being in the maritime industry, many laudable concepts have been made on papers on how best to reduce corruption in order to harvest benefits from the ports but non yielded the desired goals due improper implementation, narrow-minded interests and corruption in the industry having its tolls on the safety of the crew, cargoes and vessels transiting within and around our maritime domain thereby entrenching a controversial identity of a viable maritime country.
The ANLCA Helmsman reiterated that If the NPPM must be seen as a document of high value that will achieve its objectives it’s initiators and drivers must continually practice an all-inclusive implementation mode devoid of personal ego or one government organisation trying to assert superiority over the other.
“Since the manual itself and the ports economic regulator ( Nigerian Shippers Council) that is to implement it are not backed by any law, except by executive fiat, it is important that its provisions are not in conflict with any extant law governing our maritime activities;
The process of making Nigerian Shippers Council a stronger economic regulator by an Act of the National Assembly should be activated and expedited”
In the area of Insecurity on Gulf of Guinea, the president called on the government to engage the youths of coastal communities close to the Gulf of Guinea to fight maritime country crimes in a manner similar to the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) presently deployed in fighting insurgency and terrorism in the North East and parts of the country and also interventionist organisations such as Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Presidential Amnesty Office and other similar bodies could be contracted as first line of communication with the youths to make piracy, sea robberies, the kidnapping of crew members and attack on ships less attractive and difficult to carry out as indigent youths will be enlisted into the fight against these maritime crimes.
He went further to insist that for NPPM to work better, faster and more seamless, individual and corporate attitudinal change is very crucial and need for a more robust inter-ministerial interface. “Most of the agencies of government operating in our ports are under different ministries with various chains of command. In this regard, the transport ministry should seek and sustain the support of other ministries such as health, trade, internal affairs, agriculture, police affairs, justice and others to enjoy counterpart support of other ministers” he opined.
While promising ANLCA’s support to the government in achieving its laudable objectives for setting up the NPPM through agencies like Nigerian Shippers Council and Nigerian Ports Authority, Hon. Nwabunuke urged that the NPPM be seen as a step towards the right direction but not as the final destination.
