A programme designed to make the Nigerian ports a regional trade hub was flagged off recently at the Calabar Port by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Ameachi.Speaking. At the “Port launch’’ of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Service Support Portal (PSSP), Ameachi restated the Federal Government’s resolve to improve operations at the nation’s seaports.
Prior to the Calabar leg of the exercise, similar events had taken place at Onne and Port Harcourt ports in Rivers State.
According to the minister, the ultimate goal of the project is to ensure efficiency, cost effectiveness and speedy clearance of vessels and cargoes to match global standards at the ports. Ameachi said that in the face of “current global economic recession, there is no better time to make our seaports more user friendly and internationally competitive.”
Represented by Abdullahi Goje, General Manager, Eastern Ports, the minister called for collective support of major stakeholders at the ports and genuine commitment to the implementation of the Integrity Plan.
He also called for a collective resolve to promote transparency, accountability and elimination of operational impediments to greater economic performance in the Nigerian ports. Amaechi stated that the 48 hours duration target for cargo clearance was realistic.