An international business network outfit; the Maritime Anti- Corruption Network (MACN) last week organised a two-day training workshop for practitioners in the Nigerian maritime sector for the purpose of reducing corruption in port operations
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Chairperson of MACN, Cecilia Muller Torbrand said that the training is the first step in an initiative to promote integrity in the Nigerian maritime sector.
Torbrand noted that materials for the training programme were made available, in order for practitioners to use them locally at their workplaces.
She reiterated that the learning experience focus on decision making when confronted with issues of corruption and was designed with different pressures.
The MACN chair stated that integrity training of officials and implementation of anti-corruption policies is important, adding that one of its key objectives was to tackle concrete issues as well as root causes of all forms of corruption which include, bribing and facilitation payment, specific to the maritime sector.
In order to fulfil MACN, Torbrand further explained that the outfit is currently implementing collective action projects in Egypt, Nigeria, Argentine, and Indonesia , pointing out that the fundamental elements of the group’s actions were based on stakeholder- inclusiveness, local ownership and transparency.
According to her, MACN is currently working on implementing three work streams which includes, training and building capacity and implementation of anti-corruption policy, improve governance of port operations by implementing a standard operating procedure for vessel clearance.
Also, she added that the firm is working on establishing a port sector grievance mechanism for companies and local public authorities.
Speaking further, she stressed that, “MACN members promote good corporate practice in the maritime sector for tackling bribe, facilitation payments, and other forms of corruption by adopting the MACN anti-corruption principles, communicating progress on implementation, sharing best practices and creating awareness of industry challenges”
“As part of the project MACN and UNDP partnered with BPP, ICPC, TUGAR to conduct an integrity risk assessment in the Nigerian Ports sector, identifying specific forms of corruption, underlying drivers, and possible solutions.”
The workshop had in attendance government officials from the Nigerian Customs Service, top officials from the Nigerian Shippers Council and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Others include officers from the Port Health, Immigration, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),ICPC, Kenya Ports Authority officials.
And from the private sector , members of ANLCA, NAGAFF, Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders importers and Exporters Coalition , AREFFN,NARTO and RTEAN officials respectively also attended the training.
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