Lack of adequate deployment of technology in Nigeria’s port business system, especially the absence of a single window platform for port operations and the advanced Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) is pulling back the country’s blue economy development.
Former Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, who reiterated this position on Wednesday in Lagos, maintained that proper deployment of technllogy would eliminate corruption in the ports.
Bello spoke at the 10 Anniversary Lecture and Awards of Primetime Reporters themed, “Leveraging Technology to Maximise the Poyential of Nigerias Blue Economy.”
He said: “Advanced cargo tracking system and a single window system are indispensable for a technologi driven port operation. These are critical. The blue economy will not do well without adequate deployment of technology.
“Blue economy is ocean based economy, but does not stop there. It supports energy and fishing is a major industry in the blue economy. Everybody must have contribution and benefit from the blue economy.”
He thanked the management of Primetime Reporters for setting the agenda for blue economy development.
“Our ports are not maximally efficiently driven by technology. When I was at the Shippers Council, terminals were not technologically driven and we had to set a target for them and I am happy that by the time I was leaving the terminal operators have reached 50% technology integration in their operations. We can stay in our office and work on the bill of laden, importation documents and everything about the port business,” Bello emphasised.
The former Shippers Council Executive Secretary insisted that once the ports can operate through technology, corruption in the port system would be eliminated as too much human contact is responsible for the deep-rooted reported at Nigerian ports.
“A port is not supposed to have people all over the place. An efficient port is the one that is driven by technology. I remember when we visited Singapore’s biggest port with some lawmakers. I can still recall when one of them asked me if that was a seaport, and I said, yes. A port is not supposed to have too many people doing business. Once you have too many people in the port, this drives corruption. This is the reason for the corruption in the port.”
