The Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) has delivered its scorecard and restated its commitment to fulfilling the objectives for which it was created.
The team, which comprises of the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) had explained that it was important for it to review last year performance in order to chart a new path noted that it is committed to identifying the problems bedeviling the nations’ maritime sector with a view to proffering lasting solution to such problems.
PSTT pointed out that it was able to make progress in 2022 through the joint efforts of various agencies that make up the team adding that the achievements did not come without obstacles.
Speaking on the achievements, the National Coordinator, Mr. Moses Fadipe, explained that when they commenced operation they looked into major areas which include arrival and departure of vessels, terminal operations, and clearing of goods from customs.
He said: "Now, only agencies permitted by the Port Manual namely Ports Health Services, PHS, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS; Nigeria Immigration Services, NIS; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA; Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA; are involved in vessel boarding, while the DSS can only board based on credible intelligence.
"There has been an increase in vessel turnaround time resulting in huge financial savings on the part of the vessel owners which could have gone to private pockets. Also, the ports have become predictable and consistent in line with international best practices.
"Improved cargo dwell time, ship tum-around time, berth occupancy rate efficiency, speedy cargo delivery, reduced congestion, and created more space thereby increasing the efficiency of the yard capacity.
"Reduced under-the-table cost of cargo clearance at the ports (illegal demands in the ports) and eliminated bureaucratic bottlenecks faced by port users thereby improving duty collection.
"Drastic reduction in sample taking by unauthorized persons and agencies and for the authorised agencies, we are advancing towards moderate sampling for both homogenous and heterogenous cargos.
"There is improvement in the number of containers examined daily from an average of 120 in the past to 230 containers at present at both Lagos Port and Tin-Island Port.
"Implementation so far has shown progressive cost recovery in billions of naira. The economy has saved an average vessel demurrage of $20,000 per day between the years 2021 and 2022 which ultimately translated to the sum of $12.350,000 which is over N5.4 billion at today's official exchange rate.
"More than 85% of vessels that called at Nigerian ports and terminals left without incident in 2021. There is a drastic reduction in the incidence of extortions by both state and non-state actors, and freer movement of vehicles and persons along the ports' logistics ring”.
Fadipe, who said their efforts have yielded international recognition, promised that they would work with relevant stakeholders to eradicate the menace of touts suffered by cargo vehicles.
"You have heard all the stakeholders say it is a task for all, not PSTT alone. Everybody will be involved, including the Lagos State government and the community leaders. I have been to the Ministry of Transportation to meet with the Lagos State government, and we can all do it together within the ambit of PSTT.
"Come next week, you will see us moving out. We have moved out in the past and you saw how it is. By the time we begin to move out from next week, you will see tremendous change”. Fadipe concluded.
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