MARITIME Anti-Corruption Network, MACN, an initiative set to checkmate unwholesome practices in the Nigerian ports has concluded plans for a grievance reporting mechanism just as a consequence framework is also being developed.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the MACN, Mr. Olusoji Apampa said that with time each maritime agency will develop their own compliance department to ensure that the rank and file of these agencies about the seriousness of government to stamp out corruption.
Apampa warned if transparent and efficient standard operating procedures are not put, it will always cost Nigerian more in cost and time to clear their cargoes from the port. He explained that in forward looking of the world, you can predict how much it will cost to clear cargo and how soon as well.
Explaining further, Apampa said that the aim of MACN is to bring officials of the government agencies in the maritime sector not compete with the government in terms of revenue generation adding trade cannot grow if officials remain bottlenecks in the cargo clearing procedures and processes.
He said; ‘‘There is a grievance reporting mechanism, and that now, a consequence management framework is also being developed and they will see with, each of the agencies developing their own compliance department to make that the rank and file understand that the government is serious about the official following the standard operating procedure because without that our trade cannot increase, our throughput in the port cannot increase, revenue for government cannot increase so long as official are bottlenecks and they are competitors to government in the collection of revenue.
“We focus on the maritime industry, the entire maritime industry has government departments that interface with them, whether you are doing vessel clearing or you are doing cargo clearing or you are doing both. It is mostly the same agencies you will meet Customs, you will meet NAFDAC, you will meet SON.
“Yes it is only the vessel clearing that will meet immigration, but you have NDLEA, you have DSS, they are all and if they do not follow standard operating procedure, it will cost you more in both time and expense. So, if you cannot predict the time and cost to clear your cargo at the ports, then we are not there yet.
“In forward looking ports around the world have these things in their standard operating procedure, their standard operating procedures are very transparent, the procedures are consistently applied. You can predict how much it will take you to clear your cargo and how long it will take you. These are the measures of efficiency in the port and we are pushing to try to get that happen in Nigeria.