Council To Name, Shame Defaulters Of Port Regulation

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has said it would name and shame defaulters of the standard operating procedures of the seaports in Nigeria as a means of ensuring compliance with extant laws and procedures.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello, who spoke, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, at the stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on the implementation of the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM), expressed optimism that the manual would reduce drastically corruption in the seaports and also promote efficiency and transparency that would widen the economy.
He noted that the manual, which encapsulated the standard operating procedures in ports, has collaborated with important stakeholders and private sector and government agencies to act according to the books, adding that the new manual which details every activity in the port would ensure hitch-free services.
He said, “We are concerned with the port efficiency, reduction of corruption and introducing transparent procedures and process so that the economy will be widened. The more efficient our ports are the more positive economic consequences.
“We are collaborating with all the important agencies, private sector, and Government agencies. This means that things must be done according to the books and within the time prescribed to ensure there will not be any delay in our services.
“We are going to name and shame those who do not align with what we are doing and there will be consequences for defaulters.”
The Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority, Hadiza Usman, who was represented the General Manager, Public/Private Partnership, Eniola Williams, added that agencies that are not listed as part of the joint burden would not have a platform to import or export vessels, noting that this would eliminate discretionary charges and improve transparency.