NPA Launches Platform To Address Revenue Leakage

As part of efforts to block revenue leakages, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) yesterday introduced Revenue Invoicing Management Systems (RIMS) which is expected to kick start in the last quarter of 2015.

According to NPA, the benefits associated with the new system is that it will enable efficient and prompt collection of revenue, allow online real time update of payment and ensure data and service integration with other critical functions like human resources system and ship entry information.

The solution is also expected to help the NPA to shore up its cargo based revenue by about N10Billioin, from the N40 billion it recorded in 2014 to about N50Billion.

Speaking during the launching of the RIMS in Lagos, yesterday, the Managing Director, NPA; Mallam Habib Abdullahi stated that the scheme would allow customers initiate and conclude their business processes with NPA and also communicate with the agency.

According to him, "the introduction of this system has the potential to improve our service offering, improve our partner relationship, create efficient payment method, maximise revenue and minimise loss associated with fraud and revenue leakage."

"The customer self-service portal on the other hand provides a platform for our customers to initiate and conclude their business process with NPA and also communicate with us.

"The benefits accruing from this portal includes amongst others: Improve customer service delivery; easy access to customer accounts status; view all transactions and status in respect of bills; electronic upload of manifest and E-invoice and e-receipt generation," he said.

Speaking further, Abdullahi stated that the introduction of the solution would facilitate business growth and unlimited operations.

In his words, "It is obvious that the introduction of these solutions will facilitate business growth with high performance and unlimited scalability of the operations of the Authority.

"This is evident from statistics which have shown that cargo throughput increased from 46, 150, 518 metric tons in 2006 to 86, 603, 903 metric tons in 2014 indicating an 87% increase during that period which is due in part to our continued efforts at improving processes," he maintained.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration; Mr. Olumide Oduntan, while giving presentation on the RIMS, added that process was fully integrated with existing solutions as oracle financials and others.

Olumide added that the introduction of Electronic Ship Entry Notice (E-SEN) has helped to the revenue status of the NPA.

He maintained that the E-sen has increased the revenue of the agency by 36 percent from N67.5 billion in 2014 to N91.9 billion in 2015 as expected.

In addition, he added that only few organisations could boast of the achievement made by the NPA with the introduction of RIMS.

In attendance at the occasion were terminal operators, shipping line agencies, freight forwarders and other relevant stakeholders.
Also speaking on the initiative, the National Vice President of National Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); Ahmad Rabiu expressed happiness about the new package.
“It is an excellent initiative that will improve efficiency and save so much time and costs. Keep it up NPA. With a combination of this initiative and the robust change process of the PMB administration, we shall soon begin to be proud of our own. We are proud of the NPA and as we know Cotonou is already crying due to the forex control measures.”
Rabiu who is also the Chairman of Dala Inland Dry Port, Kano added that, “We must do more as Nigerians to block leakages and distortions, improve efficiency and block channels for corruption”.