The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has been working steadily to digitalise operations at all port locations in the country, towards optimal efficiency, elimination of corrupt practices and service excellence.
The Acting Managing Director of the NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr Olaseni Alakija, NPA General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications, in Lagos on Thursday.
Bello-Koko stated this when he received a delegation of the Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa, led by the Association’s Secretary General, Mr Jean Marie Koffi.
The PMAWCA delegation came to officially invite the acting Managing Director as a speaker at the forthcoming 41st PMAWCA Council Meeting, with the theme, ‘Digitised Port as a Model of Port Efficiency’, scheduled for November in Douala, Cameroon.
Bello-Koko informed the PMAWCA delegation that the authority had, over the years, championed the transition from manual to digital, automated and smart business processes.
He added that it was by working in collaboration with sister government agencies and providers of terminal and shipping services in the country.
The acting MD noted that this approach had enabled the country’s port system to continue to record increase in cargo throughput every year, despite most of the seaports operating far above their designed capacities.
The NPA boss commended the PMAWCA Secretary General and his team for sustaining the long cordial relations between the two organisations.
He said, “PMAWCA has been a worthy partner at boosting regional trade and, most importantly, encouraging the spirit of unity and brotherhood among Ports within the sub region and Africa in general”.
“The authority is ready to work with PMAWCA to achieve closer regional integration and increased participation of ports in the region in the global economy.
“As a port authority, we have been implementing a port community system to improve collaboration and information sharing among all parties in the supply value chain.”
He urged PMAWCA to remain steadfast in the promotion of the single window system as part of port operations in the sub-region, as this was the right way to improve the efficiency of cargo clearance.
In his response, Jean Koffi eulogised NPA and its succeeding chief executives for their impactful contributions over the years to the growth and development of the association.
He described the forthcoming 16th Roundtable Conference of Managing Directors as part of the highlights of the 41st PMAWCA Council Meeting.
“This is where delegates of member ports and sister organisations outside the continent will share experiences on digital transformation of their ports, the challenges encountered, solutions applied and achievements therefrom,” he said.
He explained that the 2020 edition of the PMAWCA Annual Council Meeting could not hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the entire world.