NPA Accuses Govt Agencies of Sabotaging 24-hour Port Operation

*Seeks sanctions for errant organisations

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA),
Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, has accused some federal government agencies
operating at the ports of violating the executive order signed by
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on ensuring 24-hour port operations
and synergy among such agencies.

Bala-Usman, while featuring on a television programme yesterday,
said Osinbajo, while serving as acting president in 2017 had signed
an executive order on the promotion of transparency and efficiency
in the business environment and directed the resumption of 24-hour
operations at the Apapa port.

According to her, the vice president also banned touting at all
air, land and sea ports.
She stated that only NPA obeyed the order, while other federal
government agencies refused to do so.

Bala-Usman added that up till now, the agencies that flouted the
order have not been sanctioned.

She said: “If you recall there is an executive order that was
signed by the vice-president, which directed all agencies of
government to conduct inspection (of containers) in one location
and that executive order was signed in 2017.

“Certain agencies of government have not complied and one of the
things we have said is sanction for non-compliance with an
executive order that was released cannot be done by the Nigerian
Ports Authority.”

She stated that if an agency of government violates an executive
order signed by the vice president, the presidency should sanction
that agency for non-compliance.

She said the essence of all agencies doing inspection in one
location was for consignees not to have multiple areas of
inspection.

Bala-Usman said she had reported the matter to the Presidential
Council on Ease of Doing Business chaired by Osinbajo but nothing
was done about the flouting of the order.
According to her, port operations will not run smoothly if it is
only the NPA that is meeting its obligations.

She added: “There is an executive order to that extent. Some
agencies have not complied. There have been several explanations
and justifications for the non-compliance by these agencies. The
NPA has raised it to the Presidential Council on Ease of Doing
Business chaired by the VP to ensure sanctioning for non-compliance
and as I keep saying if a directive is given and agencies don’t
comply, if there are no consequences for action and inaction, that
means I have not performed.”

She urged the federal government to hold agencies not complying
with the directive liable.
“For example, we have 24-hour port operation that has been
directed. All agencies of government are required to deploy
personnel to have 24-hour port operation.

“We deployed our personnel but the other legs were absent. And
of course, we cannot sanction other agencies of government,” she
stated.

Bala-Usman said the attention of the Presidential Council on the
Ease of Doing Business had been drawn to the issue to ensure that
those agencies also participate in the 24-hour ports operation.

She added that the Apapa gridlock will end with the introduction
of the electronic call-up system in port operations.

According to her, the new policy, set to take effect from
tomorrow, will move Apapa ports operations to a digital format.

“The electronic call-up is key as you are aware that anything
electronic seeks to remove human intervention,” she said.

She said the creation of truck parks was vital to the new
electronic call-up system.
“We have eight truck parks that have been approved by Nigerian
Ports Authority and the Lagos State government,” she said.

Bala-Usman stated that the electronic call-up system will
address extortion in the truck parks.

“It takes away the idea that an officer, be it LASTMA, police or
ports security, will give authority to go into the port, which may
give room for extortion.

“All trucks that intend to assess the ports both for drop-offs
and pick-ups have to do it from the approved truck parks.

“Cargo must also be ready for collection before trucks begin
their journey; that proposed sanity should help in tackling the
Apapa gridlock,” she said.

*Seeks sanctions for errant organisations

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA),
Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, has accused some federal government agencies
operating at the ports of violating the executive order signed by
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on ensuring 24-hour port operations
and synergy among such agencies.

Bala-Usman, while featuring on a television programme yesterday,
said Osinbajo, while serving as acting president in 2017 had signed
an executive order on the promotion of transparency and efficiency
in the business environment and directed the resumption of 24-hour
operations at the Apapa port.

According to her, the vice president also banned touting at all
air, land and sea ports.
She stated that only NPA obeyed the order, while other federal
government agencies refused to do so.

Bala-Usman added that up till now, the agencies that flouted the
order have not been sanctioned.

She said: “If you recall there is an executive order that was
signed by the vice-president, which directed all agencies of
government to conduct inspection (of containers) in one location
and that executive order was signed in 2017.

“Certain agencies of government have not complied and one of the
things we have said is sanction for non-compliance with an
executive order that was released cannot be done by the Nigerian
Ports Authority.”

She stated that if an agency of government violates an executive
order signed by the vice president, the presidency should sanction
that agency for non-compliance.

She said the essence of all agencies doing inspection in one
location was for consignees not to have multiple areas of
inspection.

Bala-Usman said she had reported the matter to the Presidential
Council on Ease of Doing Business chaired by Osinbajo but nothing
was done about the flouting of the order.
According to her, port operations will not run smoothly if it is
only the NPA that is meeting its obligations.

She added: “There is an executive order to that extent. Some
agencies have not complied. There have been several explanations
and justifications for the non-compliance by these agencies. The
NPA has raised it to the Presidential Council on Ease of Doing
Business chaired by the VP to ensure sanctioning for non-compliance
and as I keep saying if a directive is given and agencies don’t
comply, if there are no consequences for action and inaction, that
means I have not performed.”

She urged the federal government to hold agencies not complying
with the directive liable.
“For example, we have 24-hour port operation that has been
directed. All agencies of government are required to deploy
personnel to have 24-hour port operation.

“We deployed our personnel but the other legs were absent. And
of course, we cannot sanction other agencies of government,” she
stated.

Bala-Usman said the attention of the Presidential Council on the
Ease of Doing Business had been drawn to the issue to ensure that
those agencies also participate in the 24-hour ports operation.

She added that the Apapa gridlock will end with the introduction
of the electronic call-up system in port operations.

According to her, the new policy, set to take effect from
tomorrow, will move Apapa ports operations to a digital format.

“The electronic call-up is key as you are aware that anything
electronic seeks to remove human intervention,” she said.

She said the creation of truck parks was vital to the new
electronic call-up system.
“We have eight truck parks that have been approved by Nigerian
Ports Authority and the Lagos State government,” she said.

Bala-Usman stated that the electronic call-up system will
address extortion in the truck parks.

“It takes away the idea that an officer, be it LASTMA, police or
ports security, will give authority to go into the port, which may
give room for extortion.

“All trucks that intend to assess the ports both for drop-offs
and pick-ups have to do it from the approved truck parks.

“Cargo must also be ready for collection before trucks begin
their journey; that proposed sanity should help in tackling the
Apapa gridlock,” she said.