Group wants FG to investigate intellectual theft, corruption at the ports

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has been urged to in vestigate intellectual theft and corruption undermining initiatives to modernise operations at the ports.

In an open letter by Sham Logistics Concerned Citizen, signed by its President, Bala Usman, the group appealed to Tinubu to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability, noting that the success of the countr y’s economy and security of the borders hinges on eliminating such obstacles that impede progress.

The letter reads: “Mr . President, in your pursuit of making Nigeria a hub for global business, we call upon you to address these challenges and ensure that our ports reflect the efficiency and modernisation necessary to attract in vestments and spur economic growth.

“As co ncerned citizens of Nigeria, we are reaching out to you to highlight a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. Following your New Y ear’s address, where you outlined a vision to enhance our nation’s economy, security, and overall progress, we feel compelled to address a critical bottleneck that threatens these ambitions - inefficiencies at our air, land, and sea ports.”

Usman said while the Lekki Deep Seaport project holds promise for future improvements, current rankings show a significant gap in port efficiency and modernisation compared to other African ports, saying the disparity poses a challenge to Nigeria’s standing as the giant of Africa.

He said the group’s investigations revealed a concerning trend of intellectual theft and corruption that undermines past initiatives to modernise customs procedures at the ports.