Stakeholders say automation of clearing procedure to reduce human traffic at ports
Stakeholders have identified automation of cargo clearing procedure as an effective means of reducing the volume of human traffic as well as face to face contact in the nation’s seaport.
Describing high rate of human traffic into the port as one of the greatest threats to the safety and security of goods in Nigerian ports, they said the port is a security area where only authorised persons should be allowed entry.
They also blamed the high rate of human traffic at the port on physical examination of cargoes and manual documentation process, which requires the importer or his agent to be presence at the port to get the entire document needed for clearing; clear the cargo and take delivery.
As part of the effort to reduce human traffic at the port in line with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business drive, Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of the NPA recently issued a directive to NPA security to prohibit with immediate effect, touting by official or unofficial personnel at the ports.
She said that touting would not be allowed at the port as on-duty staff shall be properly identified by uniforms and official cards while off-duty staff shall stay away from the ports except with the express approval of the head of the agency.
The above has done very little to help the situation as importers or their agents are required to be at the port during examination and document processing.
“Our inspection system is very poor. Nigerian port is not applying any international best practices in any form, both in its clearing procedures and otherwise. Currently, no scanning machine is working at the port and automated process is not applied,” confirmed Lucky Amiwero, a maritime analyst, who spoke to BusinessDay in an interview.
The poor operating standard of the port, he noted, has resulted to high cost of doing business at the port due to the delay in cargo clearance. “With all our scanners not working, it means that trade is not facilitated and when we compare our ports with ports in the neighbouring country of Benin Republic, it shows that we are far behind.
“Apart from port users, hawkers, vulcanisers, mechanics, panel beaters, food vendors, commercial motorcyclists and tricycle riders find it convenient to carry out their trade around the port against the campaign of the Western Zone of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Lagos Port Complex Apapa,” said Ships and Ports Communications Ltd, an industry based publication.
According to the industry publication, NPA has issued orders and billboards placed around the ports in Lagos warning unauthorised persons to stay away from the facilities while the Western Port Police Command have carried out raids, arrested and prosecuted defaulters of the NPA order yet, the number of people loitering around the port environment is still very high.
It also reported that high influx of people into the ports was responsible for some Nigerian jetties and port facilities not being able to meet the provisions of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The ISPS Code is a set of measures that enhances the security of ships and port facilities, developed after the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
“Despite provisions of the ISPS Code, many Nigerians are yet to understand the importance of staying away from the port environment when they have no business to be there.
Aisha Ali-Ibrahim, Port Manager of NPA Lagos Port Complex Apapa relocated Customs gate office were clearing agents flocked in an attempt to control human traffic at the Apapa port. “The various freight forwarding associations need to educate their members to desist from the act of loitering because it is inimical to smooth port operation, and pose a threat to safety and security.
However, it advised that freight forwarding associations must also issue identity cards to their members to distinguish themselves from touts parading as agents.