FG launches ports committee to tackle delays, boost maritime efficiency
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has launched the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee (PCEC), a new initiative aimed at revitalising port operations and improving the ease of doing business across Nigeria’s seaports.
Speaking at the committee’s inaugural meeting in Lagos on Thursday, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by PEBEC’s Director General, Ms Zahrah Audu, said the PCEC was established to transform the country’s port landscape by cutting down cargo dwell time and accelerating vessel turnaround for port users.
Shettima described the creation of the committee as a strategic intervention to reverse the tide of missed economic opportunities in the maritime sector and unlock untapped potential for national growth.
“Improving operational efficiencies at our ports is crucial to reducing the average cargo dwell time, eliminating redundant documentation procedures, and ensuring a smoother experience for users,” he said.
“This initiative is more than just a policy move. It represents a renewed drive to activate Nigeria’s economic capacity.”
He stressed that the PCEC comprises not just government actors but also significant stakeholders from the private sector. It is a joint call to action for terminal operators to improve port infrastructure, for shipping companies to expedite operations, and for freight forwarders and regulators to reduce inefficiencies across the board.
“This committee is not just about diagnosing problems. It is about rolling up sleeves and implementing overdue solutions,” he added.
Ms Audu reinforced this point during an interactive session, noting the real-world impact of inefficiencies at Nigeria’s ports.
“Nigeria loses vast amounts of potential revenue every single day due to inefficiencies. These losses are not abstract, they represent goods undelivered, jobs uncreated, investments postponed, and national growth slowed down unnecessarily,” she said.
She maintained that the PCEC would not be a passive body but an action-driven force focused on delivering measurable improvements in port service delivery.
“At PEBEC, our focus has always been the removal of bureaucratic barriers to business. Since 2016, we have pushed more than 200 reforms in collaboration with ministries, departments, agencies, and private sector players. But now, we must move from policy to performance. That’s what this committee stands for,” Audu said.
She explained that the PCEC would work closely with the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Customs Service, and other government and private agencies involved in port activities, creating what she described as a reform ecosystem built on collaboration and shared accountability.
In his remarks, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, said the NPA was focused on four critical areas, investment in infrastructure, equipment, technology, and human capital, as part of efforts to elevate Nigeria’s ports to a globally competitive standard.
He noted that port infrastructure in key locations such as Apapa and Tin Can Island had significantly deteriorated due to age and lack of rehabilitation. Apapa port, built nearly a century ago, and Tin Can, now 48 years old, have seen minimal structural upgrades.
Dantsoho revealed that the Federal Government had recently approved the comprehensive reconstruction of both ports, which will enhance berth depths and boost cargo handling efficiency.
On the technology front, Dantsoho said the NPA was collaborating with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to roll out the Port Community System (PCS), which he described as the digital backbone of the National Single Window platform. The system is expected to eliminate paper-based processes, reduce human contact, increase transparency, cut costs, and significantly raise operational efficiency.
As for workforce development, Dantsoho stated that the NPA is ramping up training for pilots and technical staff to meet international standards and adapt to modern operational demands.
He underscored the need for better synergy across agencies involved in port management, saying “NPA cannot work in isolation. For efficiency to be realised, collaboration across every segment is essential.”
Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Trade and Tariff, Caroline Niagwan, echoed this call for joint action, stressing the importance of public-private partnerships and continuous investment in infrastructure, cargo handling capacity, and operational effectiveness.
Also lending his voice to the discussion, Rear Admiral Michael Oamen pledged the Nigerian Navy’s continued support in ensuring maritime security, particularly in tackling piracy. He noted that a secure maritime environment would help boost investor confidence and encourage more vessels to berth at Nigerian ports.
