FG Insists Only Eight Agencies to Maintain Physical Presence at Ports

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to ensure that only the eight agencies of the government selected since 2011 were allowed to maintain physical presence at the nation’s ports.

Others who were not in the list have been advised to keep away from the ports by the PEBEC, which noted that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) which is the lead agency for inspection of cargoes, has developed standard operating procedures to facilitate their seamless operation.

The agencies allowed to be in the ports are the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Police; Department of State Security (DSS); Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Port Health and the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) .

The General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr, Abdullahi Goje, NPA, said in a statement that the authority remains committed to the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to enhance the ease of doing business in the country as well as the improvement of conditions under which business is carried out in all ports across the country.

The Authority solicited the kind support of all agencies and stakeholders in the maritime sector towards actualising the noble goal of making Nigeria a destination of choice for all legitimate businesses.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Bala-Usman had while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting comprising the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), operators and major stakeholders in the port last year said only seven agencies are mandated and have approval to operate in the port.

She added that any agency that is operating in the port outside of these agencies are not required to calling on them to vacate whatever location they were occupying within the port. Furthermore, she said that the Nigerian Dug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLA) is to come to the port only when their services are required.

“This is the current position of the agencies that are operating in the port. I can assure you that we have started implementing the executive orders, what is required now is for us as agencies of government to come together and harmonise and coordinate with stakeholders. We have issued the directives and our various officers have put in place the mechanism for implementing the executive order. The executive orders will enhance our operations and reduce the cost of doing business and improve the ease of doing business in our port.

“We have six number executive orders that are attributable to port operation and we felt the need to bring together all agencies of government that operates in the port. The purpose of this meeting is to deliberate with stakeholders to fashion out ways we can implement the executive orders I the stipulated time lines. I will want in the first instance to recognize the seven approved government agencies that will be operating in the port. In 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan approved the guideline to streamline the operations of agencies of the government that are to operate in the port, “she stressed.