Oyetola targets 24-48hrs cargo clearance at ports
…Set to launch Blue Economy Roadmap
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has promised to open up the sector to private investments and public-private partnerships.
He also informed that the rehabilitation of dilapidated infrastructures across Nigerian ports would gulp a whooping $1 billion dollars.
Oyetola said this at the dinner session of the ongoing 29th Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja.
The event was put together by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) with a theme: ‘Sailing to Success: Harnessing Nigeria’s Maritime Potential.’
The event is meant to chart a new course that leverages the sector’s potential for sustainable economic growth, competitiveness, and private sector engagement.
Oyetola noted that just as the country has witnessed transformation in the telecoms and power sectors through private sector participation, he believes that enabling private sector investments is key to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential in the Marine and Blue Economy sector.
The minister also expressed the government’s readiness to enhance efficiency at the ports and facilitate the establishment of private sector-led Maritime Development Zones for the co-location of ancillary services such as wreck removal, wreck recycling, ship building, ship repairs, etc.
“It is imperative that we move quickly towards improving the navigability of our waters, increase the draughts of our ports, achieve 24-48 hours cargo clearance, and ensure adequate connectivity of our ports to the hinterland, with efficient road and rail networks.
“Our goal is to build a thriving maritime and blue economy sector that makes a substantial contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.
“We are working to streamline the number of government agencies operating at the ports through the full implementation of the National Single Window initiative.
“We are also automating port operations through the deployment of a Port Community System and phasing out manual cargo inspections,” Oyetola said.
The Minister has also informed that the rehabilitation of dilapidated infrastructures across Nigerian ports would gulp a whooping $1 billion.
Oyetola said the use of scanners should be imperative to all the ports of the nation, even as he wondered why the Nigeria Customs Service should be subjecting all imported containers to 100 percent physical examination.
“The use of scanners is imperative and the Customs CG has to buy into what we are saying.
“Attitudinal problems is what we have because even if we have ten scanners and the boys refuse to do the right thing, we are wasting our time.
“We have to get the endorsement of the president that scanners must be used at the ports,” he stated.
Speaking further, he said, “One of the things we are trying to do now is the rehabilitation of all the ports and it will cost a billion dollars and if we don’t do that, the ports will collapse.
“One of the problems we have is that we lack maintenance culture.”
The Minister also hinted that the ministry is ready to launch a roadmap into harnessing the potentials of the blue economy in Nigeria.
“Very soon, we will be talking of launching the roadmap and some of these things will be incorporated in the roadmap.
“We are here tonight to discuss on some of the challenges of the Maritime sector and to advise on some of the policies and innovative ideas to make it the best regionally and internationally
“We understand the critical role the Maritime plays in an economy such as ours. It is imperative that we quickly move towards improving the navigability of the waters, build the draughts of our ports and shift to 24 to 48 hours cargo clearance, ensure adequate connectivity from port to hinterland, and an efficient road network,” he maintained.
