NPA MD Identifies Impediments To Trade Facilitation

Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Malam Habib Abdullahi has enumerated some critical areas needed to be addressed in order to accelerate the clearance of goods under the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
According to the Managing Director, cumbersome procedures and obsolete legal framework were some of the factors militating against efficient and effective clearance of goods.
Malam Habib was speaking in Lagos while exchanging views with the World Bank team on support mission to the country on the implementation of the TFA.
The team was in the country to conduct sight-seeing of operational activities and available facilities at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) and the Tin Can Island Port (TCIP), with a view to identifying the gap for World Bank intervention.
Malam Habib identified the areas of the provision of Information Technology/ support on intermodalism through an enhanced rail transport system and provision of training needs for the innovations that would introduce into the system.
He expressed the hope that if the World Bank could intervene in these critical areas, clearance of goods in the nation’s seaports would be more efficient and the ports could then favourably compete with other ports in the world.
The Managing Director reiterated the need for all the agencies involved with the clearance of goods and trade facilitation to create a synergy through a single window network.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland, Ambassador David Adejuwon, said the team was in Nigeria in company of World Bank officials to visit border agencies and solicit for inter-border cooperation, harmonisation and mutual understanding among all stakeholders.
Ambassador Adejuwon noted that the Trade Facilitation Agreement is aimed at expediting action on clearance and release of cargo at all entry points so as to reduce the cost of transactions.
He disclosed that the World Bank is prepared to assist Nigeria in the area of capacity building especially on technical matters.
Also speaking, the World Bank leader, Mr. Emmanuel Henrigoes stressed the need for the NPA to improve on its information, communication technology facility and quality of infrastructure.
Other members of the delegation include Mr. Robert Struthers, Mr. Azarema Abdukadir, an Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Mikiko Ollison of World Bank in Abuja, and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.