In a bid to achieve an effective Port Community System (PCS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emphasized the need for inclusion of low ranking operational officers during industry stakeholders conferences.
The Comptroller General of NCS, Bashir Adewale Amenities MFR, argued that the functionality of the Port Community System (PCS) will not be realized in a port environment characterized by persistent fracas and conflicts which arise from the misunderstandings among tactical officers.
The Customs boss was speaking at the 4th edition of the JournalNG Port Industry Town Hall Meeting where he was represented by the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni.
At the event themed: “The Imperative of PCS for Integration of All Players in Nigerian Port System,” the Customs boss stressed that some challenges within the PCS and the application of innovative trends at ports are linked to confused tactical officials of security agencies
His words: “Capacity building and sensitization should also include the officials at the rank and file. You would find that PCS is well understood by the elite operators and officers; but at the tactical level there isn’t this high-level understanding. This confusion leads to conflicts between these security agencies and operators”
He, however, lamented that Nigeria has a poor culture for collating data, stressing that the historical inadequacies of policymaking and planning have been results of incomprehensive data in Nigeria.
According to him, planning for port expansion and infrastructural developments should be guided by the available data indicating cargo throughput increase.
Meanwhile, he expressed delight that the 2023 Comptroller -General of Customs (CGC) conference themed: “Leveraging Data Analytics for Secure and Efficient Trade Facilitation in Customs Operations,” showed a change in the narrative as the nation hopes to optimize the huge opportunities in port operations via efficient collation and utilization of data.
The Comptroller-General equally commended the federal government for approving the creation of a National Single Window domiciled under the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), even as he observed that the Customs NICIS II system has other agencies and stakeholders but still needed linkage for a single platform.
On his part, the Chairman of the occasion and National President, National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr. Lucky Amiwero, posited that the operations of ports in Nigeria can be best described as operating multiple windows.
Amiwero commended the organizers of the event for giving port stakeholders an opportunity to highlight core challenges whilst brainstorming on possible solutions.
In his welcome address, the Convener of the event and Publisher of JournalNG magazine, Mr. Aniemu Ismail, encouraged the various categories of port stakeholders to be open-minded and transparently share ideas in a bid to improve the operations at the nation’s ports.
Also speaking the Managing Director of Webb Fontaine, Mr. Babalola Ope, stressed that it would take concerted efforts of all players in the maritime industry to address the multiple challenges in the nation’s port system.
The Webb Fontaine boss highlighted inadequate power supply as one of the core factors influencing frequent server breakdowns and downtimes at ports, noting that infrastructural deficiencies must be addressed to achieve a functional PCS .
“One beautiful thing is that the people who are on ground and at the operational level that are sitting here. So, I’m optimistic that some of the issues here will be gainfully addressed,” the Managing Director of Webb Fontaine said.
The event was graced by several maritime bigwigs including the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, represented by the General Manager, ICT; former President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Chief Increase Uche; Port Manager, TCIP, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Sylvester Egede; Former Deputy National President, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr. Kayode Farinto; among others.
