Improving past efforts and incorporating technology into Nigeria’s blue economy and maritime industry operations will present a unique opportunity to accelerate Nigeria’s transition from a developing to a developed country in all ramifications.
Pioneer Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Iju Tony Nwabunike, stated this at the just concluded National Discourse with Distinguished Maritime Personalities (DMP) 2024 convened by a veteran journalist, Mr. Igho Kagbare at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
In his paper titled: Automation of Port Processes as an Essential Factor for a Sustainable Blue Economy, Nwabunike stressed that as the much touted giant of Africa in many respects, Nigeria and its Blue Economy potential and resources remain a crucial sector for the country’s economic diversification.
While canvassing an expert-driven port system in the country, he urged the Federal Government to allow the port system to be driven by experts, as a sustainable blue economy requires robust public-private sector collaboration.
Describing past efforts as technology procurement without patronage, he argues that procurement of technology should not be used for political patronage or as a means to reward loyalists, adding that given the fragility of the Nigerian economy, repeating old mistakes will not yield better results and that the B’Odogwu project should be reconsidered before further implementation.
On the integration of automation into the National Single Window (NSW), he advised that port automation and technology should be integrated into the NSW system with the involvement of key industry stakeholders. Training programs for port users at various stages are essential.
“The port system should ensure the use of non-intrusive technology to the extent that scanners, drones, CCTV surveillance and other non-intrusive technologies should be deployed without resorting to expensive and exploitative contracts.
“An inter-ministerial coordination should be established to coordinate all port-related agencies. This group should be supervised by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) or the Vice President to prevent resource wastage of resources,” he added.
Speaking further, he posited: “The automation of port processes and procedures in Nigeria predates the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which is a brainchild of the President Bola Tinubu administration. The blue economy is about harnessing the benefits of the marine sector without compromising the environment-not about frittering away our gains through bogus and nebulous contracts.
“The new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is simply old wine in a new bottle. This is because almost all the activities of the new ministry were previously under the purview of the Federal Ministry of Transportation. Therefore, we find ourselves in familiar territory, despite the new name, which is merely a matter of semantics and nomenclature adjustment.”
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He maintained that the maritime industry holds the key to sustainable diversification of the Nigerian economy, adding: “Even if crude oil were to run out today, the maritime industry has the potential to sustain Nigeria’s growth.
“Over 30,000 direct jobs remain untapped in the marine and blue economy sector, covering fishing, underwater mining, tourism, agriculture, water transportation, hydropower and other sub-sectors.
“However, political will, technology, and commitment are needed to unlock these opportunities. As such, the role of technology in harnessing the abundant benefits in our industry cannot be overstated and this is where automation becomes critical.”
He also pointed out that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as the landlord of the port area, has set a goal to achieve full port automation by the end of 2025, in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) deadline.
“However, I have not heard any public statement from the new Managing Director on this matter. You will agree that every step counts, especially since neighboring countries are our rivals in international trade. We cannot afford to lag behind.
“Nigeria still has significant work to do in streamlining its port operations to attract more business. Many Nigerian importers and shippers prefer using ports in Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic due to faster and more efficient processes.
“It is important for Nigeria to conduct a peer review of the neighboring countries to understand why, for example, Benin Republic operates an automated port system with almost no complaints, while Nigeria continues to struggle with delays, extortion, multiple agency checks, unnecessary alerts and other bottlenecks,” he added.
