The use of Task Forces and Special Committees is becoming a norm in the Nigerian port system, so much so that at the last count, virtually all the subsectors have being touched by activities of one task force, (ad-hoc creations in the name of presidential, ministerial or special committee) or the other.
Currently, the port system has a task force on customs reform, a national task force on importation of small arms as well as a ministerial committee on review of port concession.
Similarly, the ports have in the past witnessed the activities of a ministerial task force on port charges and a host of other ad-hoc arrangements; all in a bid to make things work better in the nation’s ports.
When the (now- disbanded) ministerial task on port charges came on board some months ago, the idea was to find a permanent end to the agitation of shippers through their freight forwarders about high cost of doing businesses in the ports. The ‘eminent persons group’ which was led by Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa; a director in the ministry of transport went round Lagos ports, spent weeks meeting with stakeholders and visiting the various terminals.
It is instructive that the task force which largely drew its membership from among freight forwarders proffered lasting solutions to so many of the problems in the ports; especially as they concern cargo handling and delivery. At the end of about four weeks, the task force turned in its findings and recommendations; which sadly, still remain as recommendations till today.
Not too long ago, a Ministerial Task Force on the Reform of the Nigeria Customs Service was put in place to try and proffer solutions to the mirage of problems that are bedeviling the Service.
The then- minister of finance, Shamsudeen Usman had mandated the task force to reorganize and transform the Nigeria Customs Service into a modern institution that is capable of enhancing revenue generation, facilitating trade and curbing smuggling and also check importation of illegal arms within two years.
The highly – respected, but largely-suspected task force was disbanded after more than one year; owing to what critics called inactivity and failure to meet its objectives.
As far as we are concerned, there is not too much difference between that task force and the new one that is currently doing the same thing; albeit under a new nomenclature of a ‘Task Force Committee’. Just like the Dr Bello Mohammed group, the new committee which is headed by Dr. Ochi Achinivu has been doing the same thing.
For instance, the committee (contrary to earlier assurances) has also been going round the various customs formations; the latest being Apapa port where it inspected the facilities of Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited and where it’s chairman was quoted as commending the training and capacity building programme has so far being implemented by the Service provider for the men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.
While we have nothing against the visitation and the comments credited to the committee’s chairman, our concern however stems from the fact that the Task Force is not doing anything new, except prolonging its stay even in the face of the obvious fact that its recommendation may never be utilized.
Now to the present: the national task force on small arms importation has turned itself into another government agency in the port; participating in cargo examination and other related activities. A visit to the task force’s office in Lagos will remind one of a typical customs ‘longroom’ of old ; very rowdy and market-like.
Painfully however, the task force on small arms and ammunitions doesn’t seem to have any prior information about happenings in the port except staying in its cocoon on Calcuta Crescent in Apapa to vet Bill of Ladings. The body has never been actively involved in any of the interceptions and seizures of arms ammunitions and hard drugs that is now a common thing in the ports of Lagos.
And last week, freight forwarders also formed their own Task Force, even as they kicked against the Task Force on small arms.
If these amorphous creations have not played any active roles in the nation’s seaports, or in the successes that have been recorded by government agencies operating in the ports, how come they have remained in the system and how come new ones are being created?
The answer can be traced to the failure of the system to correct itself. If the Nigeria Customs Service has been so effectively structured and allowed to have a seamless transition in its management, the rancor which succession generates will be reduced.
Secondly, if the ports stopped being a haven for corruption, that is, when importers and others who are involved in the cargo chain embraced integrity and best practices, the need to create agencies to interfere with cargo clearance and delivery will stop.
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