Nigerian Ports Authority
Concerned stakeholders within the maritime sector have expressed their displeasure about none implementation of the single window policy of the Federal Government.The Nigeria Single Window Trade Portal is a cross-government digital system that opens a new period for commerce facilitation by providing a single portal for commerce actors, each Nigerian and worldwide, to entry a full vary of assets and standardized providers from completely different Nigerian authorities businesses.
Stakeholders, who spoke at an business discussion board on Ease of Doing Business in Lagos stated: “The policy on single window on the clearing of goods should be fully implemented to discourage physical examination of cargo”.
In January final yr, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) had stated they had been collaborating to introduce the much-awaited Single Window (SW) platform on the ports, however nothing on floor to verify implementation.
In a communiqué signed by the organizer, Nwadinamuo Saint Augustine, the stakeholders expressed fear that “the single window operation is not yet operational despite the fact that Nigeria started the project before Ghana”.
As acknowledged by them, the difficulty of bodily examination of items at Nigerian ports can be a main problem because it encourages sharp apply and delay in doing enterprise.
“That frequent breakdown and malfunctioning of scanners additionally delay the evacuation of items from the ports. The too many documentations related to export course of is alleged to be affecting the export enterprise within the nation.
“The mounting of unapproved street blocks and harassment of cargo, truckers out of our varied ports by Customs Officials such because the x-squad, CG Task Force, FOU and different safety brokers can be a main problem to commerce facilitation; as such check-points have elevated tremendously
“The alarming high cost of doing business in our various seaports as a backlash, as it encourages inflation of goods and services as well as encourages unemployment as most shippers divert their goods to the ports of neighbouring countries.“Negative government policies, such as higher tariffs with specific mention of the auto policy has encouraged sharp practice among both government officials and stakeholders.encourage smuggling of vehicles as well as a drastic reduction of government revenue,” it acknowledged.
Former National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Eugene Nweke, stated for the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business within the nation’s maritime business to work successfully, the is the necessity for all stakeholders to stick and promote financial and tariffs /fees regulatory self-discipline, collaborate with the business regulator to finish arbitrariness in fees and stabilize overseas alternate fluctuations and management.
He noticed that assist for the evolution of pricing techniques would engender prudence in skilled scales of fees and tariffs buildings in addition to maintain stakeholder engagements, negotiations and sensitization.The discussion board nonetheless requested the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to job the contractor dealing with the 2 kilometers Apapa port entry street to hurry up the development.
However, the administration of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is enjoined to shift focus to commerce facilitation as an alternative of raking in increased income.The communiqué additionally acknowledged key stakeholders within the maritime sector must be consulted earlier than essential insurance policies and legal guidelines are being formulated, to keep away from weak and poor policy implementation.
“Government should strengthen their various institutions and agencies so that they can effectively control, sanction and reward stakeholders who may breach such ethics.“Importers and clearing agents should practice good ethical standards by ensuring full compliance of government regulations in terms of proper declaration and full duty payment rather than engaging in sharp practices,” it sated.