The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) claims to have taken steps to combat systemic corruption and other illegal activities at the country’s seaports.
Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, the company’s Managing Director, stated that the marine firm follows the Nigerian Port Process Manual’s normal operating protocols (NPPM).
“Our quest is to promote operational excellence at the seaports and terminals. We are cleaning up the system to make for smooth service delivery,” Bello-Koko said
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the managing director praised the network’s beneficial contribution in establishing a hospitable atmosphere for conducting business in the maritime industry in a statement issued by Ibrahim Nasiru, NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications.
He also praised the organization for promoting the benefits of corporate ethics and creating awareness about the damaging impact of corruption on the country’s image and worldwide standing.
The chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority expressed his delight that the Federal Government’s anti-corruption actions had resulted in a significant reduction in corruption and related crimes in the Nigerian port and shipping business.
He spoke further: “The NPA management is happy to note that we are doing well given the drop in the incidences of corruption from when the anti-corruption campaign started.
“We have seen the progress recorded in port operations and the revenue into government coffers; this indicates that sooner or later, the port industry in Nigeria would become the most attractive maritime cluster in the region, going by our market share and capacity.”
He believes that now that the bottlenecks connected with vessel sailing and berthing are all overcome, the focus should shift to cargo clearance at the port and methods to improve the country’s exports’ worldwide competitiveness.
He announced that a coordinated effort is required to make cargo clearance easier, quicker, and more market-friendly.
In keeping with the NPPM and the norms regulating the ease of doing business at the port, Koko advocated for more synergy amongst the government departments involved in maritime trade.
“This will halt long delays in cargo inspections, promote the country’s foreign commerce, create thousands of jobs, increase government income, and boost private-sector profits,” he added.
