NPA: Agencies ignored Osinbajo’s directive on 24-hour port operations

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says some federal government agencies operating at the ports disregarded Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s directive on having 24-hour operations at the port.

In 2017, Osinbajo signed an executive order that ordered 24-hour operations at the Apapa port to improve the efficiency of the business environment and transparency.

Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of NPA, told Channels TV in an interview on Thursday that some federal government agencies disobeyed the executive order and no sanctions were imposed on them.

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

“If an agency of government violates an executive order signed by the vice president, I believe the vice president and indeed the presidency should sanction that agency for non-compliance but that has not been done.

“The executive order sought to have all agencies do inspection in one location hence consignees don’t have to have multiple areas of inspection.”

The NPA boss said she has reported the non-compliance to the presidential council on ease of doing business chaired by Osinbajo.

“There have been several explanations and justifications for the non-compliance by these agencies,”

“We must be held accountable for not complying with a directive. 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.”

Usman said port operations would not run smoothly if only the NPA is fulfilling its obligation.

The 24-hour operation directive was part of efforts to resolve the gridlock at the Apapa port.

The NPA is introducing an electronic call-up system to remove human intervention in the process of calling up trucks to the ports.

Trucks waiting to access the port would be required to park in a truck park while waiting for their turn.