MAJAN lecture: Stakeholders call for efficiency in port operations
By Silas Onouha
Guests at the lecture:
Stakeholders in the maritime sector of Nigeria have called on agencies in the ports to ensure efficiency in ports operations, in order to achieve rapid growth in the Maritime industry.
This assertion was made at the one-day lecture organised by Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), to evaluate the impacts of 19years of democracy on port operations and the maritime industry of Nigeria.
The lecture with the theme ’19 years of Nigeria’s unbroken democracy; the journey so far in maritime industry’, brought together important stakeholders from the ports, NAGAFF, Nigeria Customs Service ,NCS, Maritime Lawyers, terminal operators and Journalists.
In his opening remarks, the President of MAJAN, Mr. Ray Ugochukwu analyzed activities in the ports, over the past 19 years, while calling on Government and relevant stakeholders to put measures in place, in order to move the ports forward for greater prosperity.
The Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, called for efficiency and competitiveness in ports operations.
His words: “We are all guilty of the problems in our ports today. But I believe there is hope for the maritime sector of the economy looking at 19 years of democracy in Nigeria. There is hope for democracy dividend at ports because we are discussing the challenges. If you say, there is no hope, let the Police go on strike for just one day, for us to see how the country will be like.”
Also speaking, the former General Manager of NPA, Engineer Dele Alabi, called for effective synergy among government agencies in the ports, with a view to enhancing optimum productivity for future development.
The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of Apapa Command, Nwala Nkiru, who represented the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Comptroller Musa Jubril, said Apapa Command has recorded remarkable performance in revenue generation as well as trade facilitation in Apapa port.
