Stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector have emphasized the need to adhere to global best standards as the nation pushes to maximize the potentials of the blue economy.
This was one of the recommendations from the 2022 Conference and Awards of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) on Monday at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of NSML, Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed who praised AMJON for organising such big a forum of egg-heads in the industry to proffer solutions on “Maximising the Blue Economy through Automation.”
According to him, Nigeria has come of age in making port process less cumbersome and seamless, however, there are standards to meet in order to ensure Nigeria plays by global best standards.
“For Nigeria to realise it’s potentials, all effort must be pulled together to strengthen all agencies, institutions of government and the private sector and emulate the global best practices obtainable in other parts of the world,” Ahmed said.
Also speaking the Managing Director of Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ope Babalola, revealed some challenges hindering Nigerian ports from enjoying full benefits of automation.
His words: “Webb Fontaine runs the Port Community System in Benin Republic and several other countries which integrate with Customs and other port operators and it is totally automated and functional. Those countries are really enjoying the best of everything derivable from automation and I don’t see why we can’t do the same in Nigeria.”
“The ports in Nigeria is under the Ministry of Transportation, Customs is under the Ministry of Finance, Trade is under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. So, in Nigeria we have three different Ministries sometimes with different objectives and goals. They also usually have different areas of interests and varying opinions on the best way to advance Nigeria’s trade and commerce. Transportation Ministry’s focus might be a little bit different from Finance Ministry; while the Ministry of Industry and Trade point of view is also a bit different. There is a very important need to put all of them together so that there is a single focus and single drive towards a one-stop shop for proper automation.”
The Executive Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), implored the media to play a strategic role in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
Marwa, who was represented by Dr. (Mrs) Omolade Faboyede, Director, Seaports Operation, NDLEA, noted that the fight against drug barons and cartels in Nigeria and the world over is formidable and added that one in every four drug abusers, is a woman.
While encouraging all well-meaning Nigerians to join the fight against drug abuse, he observed that the emphasis should move from tackling the abuse and traffickers, to eliminating the market for hard drugs in the country.
Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), in its address x-rayed the importance of making the ports and its users free from fraudulent practices and assured that the NSC remains in the forefront of ensuring Nigerian ports are among the best in the world in terms of efficiency and prompt evacuation of cargoes.
The Executive Secretary of NSC, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, who was represented at the AMJON Conference by Mr. Sam Anyanwu, expressed optimism that the nation’s port will continue to thrive with emphasis on port efficiency and competitiveness.