The Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) has clarified its earlier statement on the number of government agencies that can operate at the nation’s seaports.
The NPA had last weekend insisted in line with the implementation of an Executive Order given recently by acting President; Yemi Osinbajo which relates to ease of doing business as the nation’s seaports that only seven agencies would be at the ports.
In the statement, the NPA had listed the agencies to include: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Ports Health, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Security (DSS).
In the statement, NPA had stressed that: “We wish to categorically state that the Federal Government had earlier in 2011 streamlined the operations of the Agencies at the Ports with the view to ensuring swift Customer Service Delivery in the area of efficient clearance of cargoes”.
“In this regard therefore, the Management of the NPA wishes to unequivocally state that any other Agency that has not been listed as in the above in line with this Presidential Order should henceforth vacate operating from within the premises of the nation’s Seaports, adding that when required these other Agencies would be notified accordingly”, NPA had stressed.
The statement had pitched the NPA against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with the latter insisting that, its presence in the ports was statutory.
In response, the chief executive officer of the NDLEA; Muhammad Abdallah insisted that its personnel would continue to operate at the ports.
According to him, “the operation of the NDLEA at the seaports is statutory and it is pertinent to set the records straight, this clarification is imperative in the light of conflicting reports intended to mislead members of the public on the official position.”
He argued that, NDLEA’s presence at the ports is in the best interest of Nigeria, he also warned that any attempt to push he agencies personnel out of relevance at the ports would be resisted.
According to him, “the interest of Nigeria must remain paramount above every other consideration. “No one agency can succeed in isolation, we must learn to collaborate, share intelligence and embrace latest technology in promoting government’s policy of facilitating trade and encouraging Foreign Direct Investment.”
“I wish to state unequivocally that NDLEA has the mandate of the Federal Government to carry out full counter-narcotic activities at the seaports. As a responsible agency of government, we consider the misrepresentation of facts as a slight on the Presidential Executive Orders on the ease of doing business,” he said.
The apparently imminent face-off made the NPA to seek further clarification; hence a new statement was issued late Monday, by itsPublic Affairs department and signed by Mr Ibrahim Nasiru.
In the statement, the NPA acknowledged that in 2011, a Presidential Directive through the Federal Ministry of Transportation listed eight agencies as approved to be at the port.
“The directive communicated to the Managing Director of the NPA in a 26th October, 2011 memo from the Federal Ministry of Transportation, listed the eight approved agencies as: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Police; Department of State Security (DSS); Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Port Health.”
It, however, stated that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) would have to work according to a method that would have it inspect only relevant cargoes.
“It also stated that while the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should remain at the ports, a methodology which would ensure that only relevant cargoes are inspected by the agency, should be worked out,” the statement clarified.
The NPA, however, directed that agencies not mentioned in the list above should remain outside the port premises while it develops standard procedures to facilitate their seamless operation.
Discussion about this post