NPA moves to establish PCS via IMO backing

By Patience Akpuru-Egwuwa
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said it would soon establish Port Community System (PCS) with the support of the government and the technical advisory of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
This was disclosed recently in Lagos by the Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, during the annual Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) Conference and Award ceremony.
He said the system would bring together all stakeholders in the port community so as to facilitate the ease of doing business at the ports.
PCS is an electronic platform which connects the multiple systems operated by a variety of organisations that make up a seaport, airport or inland port community.
The MD, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mrs. Yemisi Oyinlola, in a paper presentation titled ‘Nigeria and the Evolving New Port Order,’ said: “Our role as port players is to position the port on the part of competitiveness with focus on quality port services and right pricing. This is what underpins trade facilitation ideals which would ultimately expand the frontiers of trade and foster economic growth.
“It is pertinent to note that with the backing of the government through the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the technical advisory of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Nigerian Ports Authority has kick-started the process of establishing Port Community System (PCS).
“The system will bring together all stakeholders in the port community and facilitate ease of doing business in the ports.”
Koko-Bello reiterated that for Nigeria to maximize the benefits of blue economy, both downstream and upstream operations must be fully explored. He pointed out that shipping business must be taken beyond mere vessel and cargo handling at the port to include other services such as bunkering, insurance and hinterland connectivity among others.
According to him, “Maritime activities are made up of downstream and upstream operations. Downstream operation is principally made up of port operation and bunkering, while the upstream consists of insurance, connectivity logistics and shipping activities.
“Ironically, Nigeria operates only in the port operation aspect of downstream operation. Even the port operation is not performing optimally due to a number of inherent challenges.
“Today, Nigeria has not fully utilized the opportunity offered by the upstream maritime economy. This explains why maritime sector has not contributed substantially to the Nigerian economy.
“To reposition the Nigerian economy, particularly the maritime sector, the managers of our economy need to pay requisite attention,” he stressed.
On the initiatives by the NPA to facilitate trade through the sea, the MD affirmed that the management has taken up the gauntlet and embarked on certain initiatives towards repositioning the Nigerian ports on the path of competitiveness, and rehabilitation of port access roads to improve hinterland connectivity.
He added that the electronic truck-traffic call-up system in Lagos pilotage district towards addressing truck congestion along the port access road has been effective, saying that management had licensed 37 Satellite Truck Parks (with the capacity to accommodate 7,000 trucks) to service the incoming trucks to the ports in Lagos under the Electronic Truck Call-Up System (ETO) which became operational in July, 2021.
The Managing Director also averred that registration and licensing of 28 empty containers holding bays with a total capacity of 137,000 TEUs has come on stream to tackle the traffic situation along ports corridors