FG Thinkers on Seaports Operations Full Automation

The federal government has made moves towards achieving full automation at the nation’s seaports.

Even, the government’s agencies in the ports have been directed to kick start the process of ensuring its full implementation, according to Ships & Ports Daily.

The move is aimed at drastically reducing the cargo dwell time (CDT) which is said to be one of the highest in the world according to World Bank reports.

CDT, which is the average time a vessel spends in a port in the discharge of its cargo from the time of arrival to the point of departure is one of the highest in the world.

On implementation, the full automation will also reduce corruption through the eliminating human contact in the cargo clearance chain.

Mr. Leke Oyewole, senior special assistant to the President on Maritime, disclosed the decision of the federal government to begin full automation at the nation’s seaports at a stakeholders’ forum with freight forwarders organised by SON in Lagos.

Oyewole said that the plan of the government is to ensure that the automation exercise takes effect in the next three months.

Thus, all the agencies of government involved in one service or the other in the ports have been informed of the federal government directive.

The SSA also explained that the idea of automation is that freight forwarders can stay in their offices or houses and complete all the processes that can make them clear their consignments.

He disclosed that the project would be handled by world class organisations, adding that Nigerians have agreed to a shift of the paradigm to be in tune with global practices.

Oyewole said that the president is worried about the influx of substandard goods into the country, adding that this has led to the death and closure of many local companies.

He called on freight forwarders to obey trade regulations and discourage importers from binging in substandard goods because of the havoc it was causing the country.

The presidential aide expressed concern over the delay and cost of doing business at the nation’s ports. According to him, a cargo that should be cleared within days spends weeks.

He also noted that ship turnaround has not improved, adding that instead of days, some ships spend about two weeks. All these, according to him, make Nigerian ports very expensive.

He equally noted the problem of under-declaration, and called on importers to turn a new leaf for the good of the national economy.

There has been an increase in the importation of substandard goods into the country by unscrupulous importers in recent times. However, SON has concluded plans to apply stiffer penalty against countries exporting substandard products to Nigeria.