THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON PORT REFORM

When it was established in 2011, it was christened the Presidential Committee on Port Monitoring, but now it is known and addressed as the Presidential Committee On Port Reform, nothing has changed, its chairman is still Professor Sylvester Monye who combines that portfolio with that of monitoring projects for the President.

When it was established in 2011, it was christened the Presidential Committee on Port Monitoring, but now it is known and addressed as the Presidential Committee On Port Reform, nothing has changed, its chairman is still Professor Sylvester Monye who combines that portfolio with that of monitoring projects for the President.
On paper, the committee is peopled by eminent persons in government, business, importing and freight forwarding which include: the DG of Bureau of Public Enterprises; Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, special adviser to the President on maritime affairs, executive secretary, Shippers’ Counci, Capt Adamu Biu, managing director of construction giants; Julius Berger, the CEOs of:  Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Mrs Stella Okoli, Coscharis Group; chief Vincent Maduka, Zinox Computers; Mr Leo Stan Ekeh, Omak Computers,Mrs Florence Seriki and Flour Mills; Chief Ukpabi. Apart from these, there is also, the national president, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, to mention a few. Altogether, the committee has 19 members.       
The obviously top-heavy committee is charged with the responsibility of monitoring all presidential directives on port reform, identifying key issues that are affecting Nigerian ports, identifying the cause of persistent bottlenecks despite previous efforts, ensuring a  competitive  environment in the ports, identifying and minimizing  the risk to potential investors as well as operators, among others.  
When it commenced work last year, not many stakeholders gave it a chance; virtually everyone was of the opinion that the Prof Monye committee would go the way of those before it. As a maritime media organisation; one that has followed activities of and written about previous committees, we didn’t share this pessimism, obviously because we felt that the involvement of the finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, and coupled with the raid map that the committee gave itself and the seriousness it attached to the work at the onset, success was certain.
About six months after the celebrated inauguration, we daresay that its activities have been largely reported than the results it is expected to record.
The committee was given short term, medium term and long term challenges to tackle and it was also given an elastic tenure, which means that the committee could stay for as long as it is relevant.
Sadly however, events since it came on board have not given enough cause to cheer.
It obvious that the committee has done the much that it can on cargo clearance within 48 hours to no avail; it has also mouthed night pilotage, yet no port in Nigeria is yet receiving ships at night. At the moment, cargo clearance is still as chaotic as it has always been, where is the sanity that the committee promised about six months ago, where is the so much talked about efficiency in the cargo clearance system.
About three weeks ago, the committee ordered drivers of trucks and tankers to vacate the ever busy Apapa end of the Oshodi/Apapa expressway, the directive has never been obeyed, rather the truck drivers have challenged the Prof Monye-led committee to dare them or provide them with a parking lot.
The committee had promised to do all within its powers and ensure that the nation’s port system is made competitive, in doing these; it has arrogated so much powers to itself and in the process bitten more that it can chew. It is staking on all aspects of port operations, and getting no results; rather its becoming more of toothless bulldog by the day.
We dare say that the Presidential committee on port reform is not in any way different from the previous committees and task forces before it.
The few professionals among the members have a lot more at stake than the government apologists.
If the committee can not enforce its directives, then it should be disbanded, if its too weak to get the trucks off the expressway so that port users and others who navigate through the Apapa traffic on daily basis can experience sanity, then it should be disbanded.