By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

The Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) has pledged readiness to continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy on initiatives aimed at harnessing the enormous potentials the maritime sector offers.

BOAN President, Mr. Olubunmi Olumekun made the pledge in a congratulatory message to Dr. Charles Okaga on his appointment as Technical Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola .

Dr Okaga’s appointment, he stated, is significant as it lends credence to his exceptional leadership ability and the profound impact he has made in advancing the Nigerian barging and maritime subsector.

He said: “Throughout his tenure at NPA, Dr. Okaga has been at the forefront of modernizing operations and streamlining processes within the sector. His innovative strategies and commitment to excellence have notably enhanced the efficiency of barging operations and reinforced the resilience of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure.”

“His contributions have set new benchmarks in the industry and positioned Nigeria as a competitive force on the global stage”.

The BOAN President expressed confidence that Dr Okaga’s expertise and innovative approach would continue to inspire stakeholders and bring about greater advancements in the barging and maritime sector.

While celebrating Dr. Okaga’s milestone elevation, BOAN President looked forward to witnessing further transformative changes under his guidance in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

The BOAN President expressed confidence that his expertise and innovative approach would continue to inspire stakeholders and bring about even greater advancements in the barging and maritime sectors.

As the barge operators celebrate Okaga, they look forward to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy witnessing further transformative changes under his guidance.

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho has hailed the gains Nigeria’s ports system stands to reap if the National Single Window regime in port operations can be successfully implemented, despite numerous challenges working against it.

The recognition of this fact and the relevance made the agency to enlist the technical assistance, support and guidance of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the deployment of the Port Community System (PCS) in Nigerian ports.

Dr Dantsoho stated this in Lagos, Tuesday, during a stakeholders’ forum on the implementation of the National Single Window project.

With the active support the agency is enjoying from the Minister,  H.E.Adegboyega Oyetola, he remarked, NPA is ever committed to the successful deployment of the National Single Window in the country.

Dantsoho disclosed that since meeting necessary requirements in line with IMO prescription, Nigeria was admitted as a member of the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), to join top-class ports in the region such as the Tangier Med Port of Morocco, Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast and Benin Republic.

In addition, he stated, the need to achieve regional and continental competitiveness made the Nigerian Ports Authority to embark on a process of operational repositioning and reengineering in line with her core statutory functions having in mind the National Single Window objectives.

It is also to ensure that the NPA is at par with regional competitors while focusing on seamless data availability and enhanced transparency.

“I would like to emphasize that our mission is to position Nigeria as the trans-shipment hub in West Africa, and with our strategic location, a population of over 200 million people, and a large market, Nigerian Ports have the potential to become the leading trans-shipment hub in the African region.

“We also have the potential to serve as a transit port to land-locked countries, since out of the 44 land-locked countries in the world, 16 are in Africa.”

He expressed regret that this potential is suffering some constraints of infrastructure challenges and competition since neighbouring countries are developing their ports infrastructure.

But he assured that upcoming port modernization projects are determined to bridge this gap and ensure that Nigerian ports are ever competitive among regional counterparts.

The implementation of the Port Community System, according to the MD, is necessarily complex and one that does not happen quickly.

He added, “Consequently, the Nigerian Ports Authority has been consistent in its efforts since the year 2011 to fully operate the PCS.”

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Fragmented technological systems, institutional bottlenecks, misaligned stakeholder expectation and inadequate physical and technological infrastructure have so far been identified as factors working against the successful implementation of the Single Window arrangement in cargo clearance.

“While these obstacles have slowed our progress, they have also provided invaluable lessons that shaped the roadmap for future successes”.

Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this in Lagos, Tuesday, during a stakeholders’ forum on the National Single Window implementation.

Speaking through Mrs Kikelomo Adeola, Deputy Controller General, (DCG), Information Communications and Technology (ICT), the CGC underlined the importance of continuous stakeholder engagement in the implementation of the Single Window, adding that previous initiatives suffered due to limited collaboration and inadequate communication whose absence bridged the trust gap expected to soften resistance among stakeholders.

According to the World Customs Organisation (WCO), a Single Window (SW) is a trade facilitation concept that enables traders and businesses to submit standardized information and documents through a single entry point to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to import, export, and transit. It simplifies and streamlines interactions with government authorities, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs and delays in cross-border trade.

Since 2014, Nigeria has made efforts twice to create and implement the Single Window without success.

Adeniyi was of the view that for the National Single Window to work in Nigeria, going forward, all relevant agencies in the country’s trade and revenue system “must embrace a singular purpose backed by an unwavering government support, ensuring that the single window is not perceived as sole mandate, but as a national strategy supported by all stakeholders, including the private sector, financial institutions, and regulatory agencies.

“The centrality of customs in this ecosystem is undeniable,” he continued, “but success requires a symbiotic relationship where each stakeholder plays its path with precision and commitment.” He reasoned that even though technology has often been cited as the cornerstone of the single window system but it cannot offer a solution on itself.

“The deployment of advanced digital platforms must be accompanied by meticulous process reengineering, capacity building, and proper change management. Past efforts in Nigeria have failed due to over-emphasis on technology without adequately addressing the human and operational dimensions. A successful single window system must reflect the peculiarities of Nigeria’s trade environment, incorporating user-friendly designs, inter-operability with existing systems and scalability to accommodate future growth.”

He called for a unified vision driven by strong political will and institutional lapses to overcome fragmentation in leadership and inconsistent policy direction which undermined the effectiveness of earlier initiatives.

“So, a successful single window system must prioritize inclusivity with active consultation and collaboration among government agencies, private sector and development partners. This development must include consultation and involve co-creation where stakeholders actively contribute to system design and evaluation”.

“As we forge ahead,” the CGC stated, “we must harmonize the legal landscape”.

“Eliminating redundancy required ambiguity while instituting possible policies that promote transparency accountability and efficiency. This legal alignment will not only facilitate system implementation, but also boost Nigeria’s compliance to international trade agreements and standards,” he added.