The Nigerian Ports Authority NPA has assured the business community in Nigeria, especially those in the maritime industry that adequate measures have been put in place that would facilitate the ease of doing business at the nation’s various seaports.

Managing Director of the authority, Hadiza Bala Usman gave this assurance while delivering a keynote address at a one day sensitisation workshop organised in Lagos at the weekend by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council PEBEC, in conjunction with the NPA.

The event featured reports on updates on the implementation of the Executive Orders on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria by representatives of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, Nigeria Customs Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON among others.

Usman, who was represented by General Manager, Servicom Division of the authority, Mrs. Carol Ufere, also disclosed that the authority is currently collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service for effective operations through the Single Window platform for the clearance of cargoes at the seaports.

This, she believes, will ensure that all agencies involved in import and export processes are inter-linked in a single office platform in order to reduce cargo dwell time, thereby enhancing port efficiency and competitiveness.

“It may interest you to know that even before the Executive Orders were signed into law by the Federal Government, the authority had put in place measures aimed at attracting investments into the maritime industry in the nation’s economy by deploying Information Communication Technology ICT in handling transactions at the various seaports”, she said.

The MD also listed other measures adopted by the authority to enhance and sustain the of ease of doing business at the ports to include the introduction of Revenue Invoicing Monitoring System series, Electronic Ship Entry Notice, maintenance of port access roads, improvement of security at the ports, acquisition and deployment of tug boats, the command and control and other electronic platforms designed to stimulate efficient service delivery.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole commended the efforts of the management of the NPA and its support to the council.

Dr. Oduwole, who doubles as the secretary to the PEBEC, said it was evident that the NPA has the best interest of Nigeria’s business community at heart, assuring that PEBEC is fully committed to the improvement of business climate in Nigeria.

While thanking stakeholders for partnering PEBEC on the workshop, she enjoined them not to circumvent the system and also give appropriate feedback on how best to evolve the best business climate for the country.