Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has directed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC to commence preparation for the final auditing of the documents as well as the performance of each terminal operator before the renewal of the concession agreement.
The Minister also directed the Shippers’ Council to set up a Port Community System, PCS within the next three months, even as he advised the Council to report any agency or individual acting as an impediment to the same process for the actualisation of the directive.
The Minister who gave directives in Lagos said that the document summited to the ministry by the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, will be forwarded to the Shippers Council for final evaluation as well as to carry out Key Performance Indicators, KPIs for each terminal operator before any lease renewal.
The Minister who was in Lagos for an official visit to the NSC met with the Governing Board members and management team at the Council’s headquarters in Lagos. He expressed dissatisfaction that requests for concession agreement renewals submitted by the NPA had no verifiable data on the performance of the terminals vis-a-vis the obligations contained in the initial concession agreement.
Sambo noted as the port economic regulator, NSC is best placed to perform this role.
He had earlier charged the Council to begin enforcement of its role as the port economic regulator, stressing that he would give the Council the necessary backing to achieve its mandate.
According to him, “NPA ought not to have recommended to the Transport Ministry the renewal of the leases and concession for terminal operators without input from NSC. As a port economic regulator, NSC should provide a comprehensive report detailing the accomplishments of the operators. Do it terminal by terminal. Outline the encumbrances the terminals faced and provide data to measure their performances,” the Minister said.
He further noted that NSC wasn’t involved in some stages of the concession agreement review, stressing that the initial neglect better positions the Council to deliver an independent review of the final outcome of the port concession agreement and recommendation with verifiable data and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the terminal operators.
According to the Minister, the report of NSC will be attached and forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for final approval of the concession contracts for terminal operators.
Sambo, however, expressed delight at the level of technological advancement at the Council, stressing that, in terms of automation, NSC is ready for the herculean task of implementing the electronic Cargo Tracking Notes (CTN) which recently got FEC approval.
According to the Minister, some of the benefits of the CTN include; a reduction in the cost of doing business at the ports, reducing the need for physical examination of cargoes, and improved trade intelligence, port safety, and national security, among others.
In his welcome remarks earlier, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Hon. Emmanuel Jime commended the Minister for spelling out the need for the CTN to President Muhammadu Buhari and pushing to get the FEC approval.
Jime recalled that he had highlighted the need to expedite the progress of inland dry port, and IDP projects across the nation as part of the low-hanging fruits for the Minister following his appointment and extolled the Minister for the swift realisation of Dala dry port and Funtua dry port.
“You have proven to be an industry man who promotes collaboration, teamwork, and diligence in order to deliver a maritime sector that stimulates national economic growth,” Jime said.
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