Tuesday, August04, 2020 / 02:40PM / CBI/Header Image Credit: CBI

Theprogram was organized to formally launch the MACN Siemens initiative that willbe implemented over the next three years, 2020- 2023. During this period, MACNand CBi will enable port users to track, demand, and drive greater compliancein Nigerian ports, the initiative will also help strengthen governmentcapability to establish compliance systems and collaboration between business,government, and civil society. This will create the platform for the culturalchanges that are necessary to improve trade flows in and out of Nigeria andsupport the social economic growth the Nigerian government is targeting.

The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network(MACN)-a globalbusiness network of over 130 companies working together to tackle corruption inthe maritime industry-is expanding its Collective Action initiative in Nigeriawith the support of the Siemens Integrity Initiative.

Objective

The goalof the project is to establish more effective seaports and terminals servicesin Nigeria and adopt corruption prevention practices via improved compliancewith Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

IssuesRaised & Proposed Recommendation During the Webinar

Issue 1: Corruption in the Maritimeindustry precedes decades and the situation has gotten worse in the lastdecade. The "germinators" and enablers of Corruption in the Maritime Industrycut across all the different stakeholders in the Maritime Industry (The Shipper/ShippingAgencies, The Terminal Operators, Security Agencies, The Transporters/HaulageCompany, Government Agencies, Lack of infrastructural facilities, especiallygood roads, right technology etc) c. There is disinclination by the PortAgencies to do the right thing, which is further magnified by the attitude ofthe port users that are benefiting from the corrupt system. These combinedforces have therefore made the regulations in place ineffective.

Recommendation:  There isneed for more collaborations with all relevant stakeholders at the ports toensuring compliance with SOPs. There is also the need for Stakeholders to takeownership of the operations at the ports and be willing to do the right thing.The Government needs to show the political will to do what is needed to rid theports off corruption.

Issue 2: Corrupt practices have thrivedat the ports over the years because of the lack of a consequence mechanism,which makes many of the Port officials/ users act with impunity. There is alsono structured/ viable process for seeking redress when there are issues.

Recommendation: Rulesshould be clear and consequences for bad behaviour should be spelt out andacted on accordingly. There is the need to have a Dispute Resolution Team atthe Ports alongside the Grievance Mechanism portal that is already operational.

Issue 3:  There is no process/ systemfor identifying those who are authorized to work in the ports, which gives roomfor many "agents" who tend to extort port users. In addition to this, there isstill a lot of paperwork from individuals to agencies, which breeds corruption.

Recommendation: There is the need to ensure thatprocesses at the port are technologically driven and the documentationprocesses are automated. There is also the need to put necessary structures inplace to ensure that only those that are authorized to be at the ports haveaccess to the ports and liaise with port users.  There should be provisionof a document that is accessible to all port users that states clearly theduties and responsibilities of all the ports agencies to ensure that port usersknow whom to deal with directly. Manual Call-up System be adopted pending whenthe Electrical System is concluded on.

Issue4: There isno coordination between all the different agencies operating at the ports andthere is a lack of checks and balances on the part of port agencies.

Recommendation:  There is the need to ensure that regulation is not revenue driven, thiswill ensure all agencies operate within the confines of their jurisdiction withactivities more coordinated and necessary checks, and balance for all portagencies are in place.

Issue 5: All theagencies operating at the ports have Standard operating procedures (SOPs) butthe tenets of the SOPs are not fully adhered to.

Recommendation:  There isthe need to create more awareness of the existence of the Standard Operatingprocedures (SOPs) and ensure their full implementation across board.

Issue6: There isstill the perception that there is congestion at the ports despite all theefforts of the Task force saddled with the responsibility of ensuring law andorder at the ports. 

Recommendation:  The efforts of the task force inensuring free vehicular movement of trucks to the ports should be publicized onall media platforms to change the narratives.

PANELISTS

Panelistsat the Webinar were:

• Dr. KayodeOpeifa- Vice Chairman, Presidential Task force on Restoration of Law &Order, Apapa, Lagos
• PrinceOlayiwola Shittu- Former President, ANCLA (Association of Nigerian LicensedCustoms Agents)
• Mr.Babatunde Ruwase- Former President, LCCI (Lagos Chamber of Commerce andIndustry)
• Dr. MudaYuusf- Director General- LCCI (Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
• Mr. SojiApampa- CEO, The Convention on Business Integrity/Integrity organisation

The launchbrought together major players and stakeholders in the Maritime sector.Participants joined the webinar from Nigeria and other parts of the worldincluding South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Canada.

Next Steps

• Engage thegovernment agencies with presence at the ports to nominate members of staff tobe trained as compliance officers for each port location/operations withinNigeria.  
• Continuousengagement with the ports users in the eastern and western ports on theavailability of the helpdesk, need to adhere to SOPs and exposure of the draftcode of conduct.
• Engage theCivil Society to prepare and publish annually independent assessment ofprogress of corruption prevention at the ports.

Credit:

The post Communique and Highlights from the MACN CBI Webinaron" Corruption in the Cargo Clearance Process at the Nigerian Ports" firstappeared in CBinigeria.com on August 04, 2020.

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