Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has commended the management of Nigerian Ports Authority for introducing electronic payment solution for all business transaction between the Authority and its customers.
Umar gave the commendation in Lagos last weekend shortly after being briefed by the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Malam Habib Abdullahi.
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has commended the management of Nigerian Ports Authority for introducing electronic payment solution for all business transaction between the Authority and its customers.
Umar gave the commendation in Lagos last weekend shortly after being briefed by the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Malam Habib Abdullahi.
Minister affirmed his support, saying: “I will continue to encourage you to develop and synchronise this system so that all the other ports, the agencies and indeed the various Management and staff will have access to information even within their hand sets. It is a great feat, a great achievement “.
On plans by the Federal government to improve maritime operations in Nigeria, he said Lekki seaport operations will kick off in 2015, adding that other programmes like Ibaka and Badagry deep seaports are equally in place, assuring that they will bring massive development to the maritime industry.
Explaining the rationale behind the e-payment platform, Mr OlumideOduntan, Executive Director Finance & Administration told the Minister that NPA decided to introduce the system because it believes in using technology to drive the system in order to enhance improved operations and efficiency.
He said that payment confirmation used to take between three to five days before, but with the system in place, confirmation is made as soon as payment is made same day.
The Executive Director revealed that customers of NPA are very happy with the introduction of the system because time of transaction is reduced to the barest minimum, adding that ninety percent of the Authority customers have keyed into the system, pointing out that over four .hundred transactions has been made since the commencement of the system in March this year.
He explained that the system reduces personal interface with customers, states payment details about the customer, bank and nature of transaction and receipts issued automatically and that this will impact on the Authority’s revenue as leakages are blocked, transparency enhanced and waiting time of vessels reduced.
The efficiency of the system was confirmed as payments by two customers were received through alert to the Managing Director and Executive Director’s mobile phones during the visit.
Discussion about this post