By Joshua Yousouph
Following the successful completion of the first phase, the enlarged Presidential Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) has flagged-off the second phase of its “Operation Free The Ports” programme. This is even as it called for an improved synergy amongst all maritime stakeholders and agencies in sanitising the ports and access roads.
Recall that on April 14, 2022, the then-Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi flagged off the activities to remove all illegal checkpoints and shanties along the port corridors, while eliminating traffic gridlocks and corrupt practices that have been impediments to the Ease of Doing Business in Nigerian Ports.
Speaking at the second phase of flag-off ceremony at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council headquarters in Lagos on Friday, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Magdalene Ajani noted that the operation is an offshoot of the implementation of the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM), which is expected to change the narrative and the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by the Transparency International, about Nigerian ports.
While commending members of the PSTT for the tremendous achievements recorded so far, the Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Deputy Director, Inland Waterways, Maritime Services Department, Mr. Adams Ofie stated that the Ministry is aware of the major challenges of the enlarged Task Team due to inadequate logistics and operational needs.
The Permanent Secretary equally solicited support for funding from all government agencies and synergy with relevant security agents and ministry to enforce strict compliance.
Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC); Mr Emmanuel Jime, noted that despite logistics and operational challenges, the Task Team has achieved its objectives. He also added that the Task Team faced stern resistance, intimidation, threat to lives, and physical assault of operatives, gadgets and vehicles.
Jime informed that the second phase of the operation will be along the Apapa – Tin-Can – Coconut – Berger Yard – Mile 2 – Orile – Ijora corridor.
He said: “It is not easy to walk the path that the PSTT have been through these past few months. Many people had their reservations while others expressed their doubts as to the capability of the task team in successfully clearing the Apapa port complex to Sifax-Ijora Road corridor with a view to bringing sanity and ensuring free flow of traffic. To be fair to the cynics, we all knew the enormity of the task to be a herculean one. However, at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, buoyed by the cooperation of other committed stakeholders, we were resolute and dogged in our resolve in contributing to change the narrative.
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“However, the successes recorded were not without dire consequences including stern resistance, intimidation, threat to lives and physical assault of operatives, gadgets and vehicles. A case in point was the attack on some personnel of the task team including the National Coordinator, where they were assaulted and harassed. I would like to reiterate my appeal to everybody or groups that still nurse reservations to kindly see reasons and cooperate to ensure that the ports corridors are free for ease of movement and conduct of businesses”.
On his part, the National Coordinator of the Port Standing Task Team, Mr. Moses Fadipe reiterated that, “Operation Free the Ports’ Corridors” is the third in the series of activities in monitoring the implementation of the NPPM.
He noted that the first series of the activities of the Task Team was the monitoring and supervision of vessel joint boarding and rummaging exercises in adherence to the provisions of the manual. According to him, the task team then moved to the Joint Cargo Examination at the terminals in its series of activities.
While appreciating all relevant agencies and stakeholders, Fadipe however called for their improved support and cooperation to ensure the Task Team achieve its mandate.
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