As part of its strategies to drive service efficiency and contribute revenue to the Federal Government, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has set August 2024 for full paperless operations.
NSC Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Pius Akuta, disclosed this on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the Council’s three-day 2024 Strategic Management Retreat in Abeokuta with the theme: “Unlocking the Potentials of the Marine and Blue Economy for Rapid National Economic Development.”
Akuta, who noted that paperless operation reduces bureaucracy, said the agency will leverage technology and go fully paperless in August 2024 to optimise its operations. Stating that the theme of the conference aligned seamlessly with the ministry’s strategic vision, Akuta said it “underscores the vast opportunities inherent in the marine and blue economy sector.”
On the management’s quest to meet the presidential Key Performance Bond (KPI), Akuta said the agency was determined to make evident contributions to the development and implementation of a national policy on Marine & Blue Economy.
“We aim to create a robust policy framework that harnesses the potential of our marine resources. This is ongoing, and our contributions must be evident.
“The implementation of the KPI signed earlier holds the key to achieving several significant deliverables, like streamlining port operations, enhancing logistics, and facilitating seamless trade to enhance port operations.”
Also crucial is the establishment of inland dry ports and vehicle transit areas, crucial for efficient cargo movement, as well as the deployment of an enterprise content management system (ECMS) to drive set goals, among others.
Similarly, the implementation of the Integrated Customs Tariff Nomenclature (ICTN) will aid the agency’s revenue generation drive.
“Others are capacity-building programs, including tailored courses within the agency, as well as international exposure to global perspectives,” the Shippers Council Boss stated.
However, these, he stressed, can only be achieved through collaboration with other industry stakeholders. He further stressed the imperative of amending the Shippers’ Council Act to empower the agency as the Port Economic Regulator.