President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the audit of the maritime sector
to ascertain why it is not making the desired progress, a statement issued by
the Ministry of Transportation on Thursday said.
to ascertain why it is not making the desired progress, a statement issued by
the Ministry of Transportation on Thursday said.
The statement was signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs of
the Ministry, Yetunde Sonaike.
the Ministry, Yetunde Sonaike.
It said that the Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, made this known when a
delegation of the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms
(TUGAR) paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
delegation of the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms
(TUGAR) paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
Amaechi said the purpose of the audit was to ascertain why the nation’s
seaports were not making progress in terms of timely clearance of goods, when
compared with those of neighbouring countries.
seaports were not making progress in terms of timely clearance of goods, when
compared with those of neighbouring countries.
The minister said corruption at the ports were endemic and urged agencies
directly involved in the process of inspection and clearance of goods to evolve
ways of curbing corruption.
directly involved in the process of inspection and clearance of goods to evolve
ways of curbing corruption.
The minister expressed concern over the frequency of diversion of
vessels to neighbouring countries due to bottlenecks at the nation’s ports.
vessels to neighbouring countries due to bottlenecks at the nation’s ports.
Meanwhile, the statement noted that Buhari had also approved a `National Single
Window’ designed to ease clearance as well as tackle corruption at the
seaports.
Window’ designed to ease clearance as well as tackle corruption at the
seaports.
It explained that the National Single Window is an automated system
which allows for instant screening and scanning of vessels which would
facilitate the clearance of goods in 24 hours.
which allows for instant screening and scanning of vessels which would
facilitate the clearance of goods in 24 hours.
