Seaport: NPA, Shipper’s Council snub FG order on N180m fundraising to fight corruption

By Seun Ibiyemi

The Federal Government effort towards  fighting corruption at the nation’s seaports may be facing setback, as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NCS) are yet to provide the required funds.

The Federal Government had approved about N180 million for Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) to fight corruption at the nation’s seaports.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, at a round table discussion in Lagos said that the government agencies were instructed to provide N60 million each for the Port Standing Task Team in order to carry on the anti-corruption crusade across the nation’s Ports.

Ajani, who was represented by Babatunde Sule identified the agencies to include: Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of PSTT, Moses Fadipe confirmed that Federal Government approved N180 million for the operations of the task team, saying that only the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has responded to the government’s instruction.

He revealed that other agencies, which include NIMASA and NPA, are yet to respond and the PSTT has not receive anything from them.

He said the Nigerian maritime sector has made significant progress towards promoting efficiency and transparency in recent years.

For instance, he said the PSTT has played a significant role in transforming the sector through its commendable monitoring and enforcement of adherence to the provisions of the Nigerian Port Process Manual and in its discharge of other ancillary mandates.

“The task team’s interventions have led to a reduction in inefficiencies and corruption, and there has been a positive impact on the economy.

“Strict monitoring and enforcement of joint boarding of vessels procedure, transparency in monitoring, strict monitoring of joint cargo examinations, and the dismantling of illegal checkpoints and extortion points have all contributed to the improvement of the sector,” he said.