NPA Told To Reduce Bureaucracy At Seaports

The Enugu Chamber of
Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) has advised the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to reduce bureaucracy at the seaports.
The President of the Chamber, Dr Ifeanyi Okoye, gave the advice in Enugu during the NPA Day at the ongoing 25th Enugu International Trade Fair. Okoye expressed regret that importers were still facing undue delays in clearing their goods and called for pragmatic approach to tackle the issue.
He said that this challenge was stifling the progress and development of the country.
“We are not unmindful of the various measures to decongest our ports, but we wish to say that a lot still needs to be done,” he said.
Okoye said that importers, especially those from the eastern part of the country, were still experiencing undue delays due to unwarranted bureaucracy in clearing their goods at the ports.
“We call on the NPA to institute pragmatic and proactive approaches in these negating issues in the maritime sub- sector,’’ the chamber president said.
In his speech, the Managing Director of the NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, said the authority had been repositioned to play strategic role in attracting foreign direct investment to the country.
Abudullahi, represented by the Eastern Ports Assistant General Manager (Operations), Mr Oladele Alabi, said the authority was working in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service to reduce delays in clearing goods. According to him, when the Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos and Ibaka in Akwa Ibom become fully operational, they have the potential to increase government revenue and create massive employment.
“The seaports, when they become fully operational will encourage high exports and reduce importation cost.