The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that the adoption of the Port Community System initiative would position Nigeria to benefit from global trade opportunities.
Oyetola said this in Abuja Tuesday when he formally received a consultant’s report on the implementation of the Nigerian Port Community System from the Nigerian Ports Authority and the International Port Community Systems Association.
He added that the development was a move that would enhance the ease of doing business in ports within the country.
The PCS initiative aligns with the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic of the International Maritime Organisation and its objectives include preventing unnecessary delays in maritime traffic, enhancing cooperation between governments, and ensuring uniformity in formalities and procedures.
Oyetola disclosed that the implementation of the PCS was a Key Performance Indicator given to his Ministry by President Bola Tinubu.
“I realize the importance of the implementation of the PCS on the fulfillment of the overarching objectives of President Tinubu, including the implementation of the initiative as a key performance indicator for the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the Presidential Performance Bond I signed as a Minister,” he said.
The former Governor of Osun State commended the management of the NPA for their foresight in seeking technical guidance from the International Maritime Organisation in the development of the PCS report.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, had said that automation remains the most sustainable path to making Nigerian ports competitive, adding that “we were duty bound to infuse greater vigour into the implementation of the PCS which by its operational dynamics, eliminates all forms of human interface and attendant delays that undermine the efficiency of our ports”.
He said that NPA had intensified synergy with the International Maritime Organisation for the technical guidance necessary to actualise the PCS which lays the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window.
Mohammed Bello-Koko assured the Minister of the diligence, determination and discipline required to make the project a reality.
