Business
Shippers Council Boss Bemoans Systemic Corruption At Ports
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime, has expressed concern over attacks on members of the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) waging war against corruption at the nation’s ports.
The Task Team, led by the council as the ports economic regulator, is a Federal Government’s committee set up to check corruption at the nation’s ports.
Speaking to newsmen as part of the activities to mark his one year in office, Jime said officers of the task team who have challenged corrupt practices at the ports have been under attack.
He said despite the attacks, the task team has been able to save as much as $20,000 daily from demurrage.
According to him, “We are engaged in a fight that no agency of government has ever been engaged in. We are fighting in a territory where the challenge is more than what anyone can ever imagine.
“The National Coordinator, PSTT of our agency, Moses Fadipe, is seated here but I can tell you that there are lots of butterflies in his stomach because this guy’s life is in danger.
“The lives of Moses Fadipe and his team are in danger because they are fighting against a corrupt system that has been here for a very long time.
“Kindly help us shine light on happenings along the port corridor. We have to rid the port of the endemic corruption that has gone up to a level anybody can ever imagine.’’
“When I tried intervening, I found out to my chagrin that the more I get involved, the more I try not to get compromised. I was surprised that at the level of my intervention, I was almost getting into a compromised level. It’s like I was reporting someone to his benefactor. What I have decided is that we must fight this corruption at the ports.
“What we found out is that most of this other ranks (security officials) don’t just wake up in the morning to go and mount checkpoints. They have superior officers that they make returns to. That is why all the previous interventions done by previous administrations failed.
“This is the magnitude of the problem concerning corruption at the ports. We will fight it the best way we can. We will ensure people are held accountable for their actions and the work of the PSST will continue”, he said.
He disclosed that the activities of the PSST team saved the Nigerian economy an average vessel demurrage of $20, 000 per day between 2020 and 2021, translating to the sum of $6.5m (N3.3billion).
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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