The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Friday said some bonded warehouse owners must key into
the new demands of their business to sustain the trade rather than complain.
the new demands of their business to sustain the trade rather than complain.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, represented by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, gave the charge at a news conference in Lagos.
He said the owners of bonded warehouses should employ the services of consultants to improve their business and incorporate all components of their service to make it competitive.
“You need to understand how to key into today’s business demands to remain relevant.
“The NPA will no longer compel anyone to use any warehouse against their wish so that the private sector can truly grow based on competitiveness,’’ he said.
On the state of the port channels in Calabar, Abdullahi said he was optimistic work would continue soon after conclusions of certain administrative inquiry by the Federal Government from
the management company.
the management company.
On the need to dredge Warri port, he said issues of the breakwater rehabilitation would first be addressed before dredging could commence because the area was in the lower course region.
He explained that the nature of the area caused high siltation at the Escravous entrace.
Abdullahi said the port reforms had resulted in the NPA rehabilitating the rail lines from the ports in Lagos and Port Harcourt to locations in the northern part of the country.
According to him, it is part of efforts to improve on inter-modal transportation system for purposes of trade facilitation, including improving waterways transportation.
Abdullahi said that the NPA had advanced trade using technology in various platforms to drive different operations for optimal results.
He said the NPA was synergising with the U.K. Hydrographic Office, giving them Marine Safety Information (MSI) and Hydrographic Data Information (HDI) which were used in producing the charts for the channels.
He also said that all manual charts would soon disappear as they advanced in the technology being used.
NAN reports that other automated operations by the NPA include the introduction of e-payment platform that helped in curbing delays in waiting for payment confirmation to continue other
trade processes.
trade processes.
The NPA also introduced the electronic ship entry notice called the e-SEN.
He said the authority would further its human capacity development crusade and extend it to improving reportage of the industry for mutual benefits.
