Oyetola receives NPA report for compliance to global maritime rules

Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy, has formally received the consultant’s report for the implementation of Nigerian port community system (PCS).

The report was received from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA).

The minister got the report on Tuesday in Abuja.

The purpose of the PCS is primarily for Nigeria to comply with the dictates of the April 2019 convention on facilitation of international maritime traffic (FAL) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), whose main objectives are to prevent unnecessary delays in maritime traffic, to aid cooperation between governments, and to secure the highest practicable degree of uniformity.

PCS is an open electronic platform that connects individual existing systems and databases of distinct companies and organisations.

Part of PCS’ objectives is to enable secure and intelligent operational data exchange and consolidation within the port network.

Speaking during the event, Oyetola said the PCS is geared towards positioning Nigeria to reap the benefits of global trade.

“On behalf of the federal ministry of marine and blue economy and indeed the government of Nigeria, I will like to register our profound delight on this milestone step towards implementation of the port community system (PCS) in Nigeria which is geared towards positioning the good people of Nigeria to reap the benefits of global trade,” Oyetola said.

“I will like to commend the current management of the Nigerian Ports Authority under the leadership of Mohammed Bello-Koko for the tenacity of purpose and foresight to enlist the technical guidance of the IMO which led to appointment of a consultant in 2022 and whose relentless drive propelled us to the milestone point we gathered here to witness today.

“I, therefore, want to assure you of my readiness to take a frontline role in the attainment of this noble objective.”

On his part, Bello-Koko said automation of activities in ports is the most suitable path to making ports become competitive.

“As someone who has always insisted on the self-evident fact that automation remains the most sustainable path to making our ports competitive, I knew I had to pursue the implementation of the PCS,” Bello-Koko said.

“PCS by its operational dynamics eliminates all forms of human interface and attendant delays with greater vigour.

“So we intensified our synergy with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the technical guidance necessary to actualize the PCS which actually lays the groundwork for the implementation of the national single window.”

The NPA boss said he is committed to making the PCS project become a reality.