Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho has been speaking on the reasons behind the decision of the Authority to join the global body. International Port Community System Association IPCSA, saying it was in partial fulfilment for the implementation of a National Single Window NSW platform in the country.

TheIPCSA, with full memberships drawn from all regions of the world comprising Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and North America, Latin America and Carribean, West Asia and some associate members, is the international organisation representing Port Community Systems operators, Maritime Single Window operators and port authorities.

The association, which is predominantly made up of member nations of the International Maritime Organisation IMO, is the successor to the European Port Community Systems Association ECPSA, which was launched in June 2011 by six founding members, all European-based Port Community System operators. IPCSA and its members, the newest being NPA; play a vital role in global trade facilitation; the electronic communications platforms provided by Port Community Systems ensure smooth transport and logistics operations at hundreds of sea ports, airports and inland ports.

Recall that NPA had in recognition of the importance of the implementation of the single window platform in Nigeria engage the technical guidance of the IMO for the deployment of the Port Community System PCS, as a prelude to the deployment of the National Single Window in the country.

Addressing stakeholders at the just concluded forum on National Single Window implementation held in Lagos under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and its relevant partners, Dantsoho disclosed that Nigeria as represented by the NPA having fulfilled all the prerequisite conditions has been admitted into the IPCSA.

The country joins top-class seaports in the region such as Tangier Med Port of Morocco, the Port of Tema in Ghana, the Togo Port, Ivory Coast, and the Republic of Benin among others as well as other major seaports in Europe, America and Asia, among several others.

“Clearly, NPA has taken a very proactive approach to embracing ICT technologies and implementing a number of its own internal activities, in the belief that the cargo operations in our ports cannot meet international best practices without the port community system.

“The national Single Window is a central piece in the modernisation of Nigeria’s trade processes, and the NPA, under the visionary leadership and supervision of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E Adegboyega Oyetola is fully committed to a successful implementation of this programme.

“At a time like this when Nigeria is undergoing a phase of socio-economic turnaround, the Nigerian Ports Authority will certainly strive to match the pace and expectations not only of the government but also the global trading community”, the MD also said.

The IPCSA had on its website on January 7, announced that it has enlisted the Nigerian Ports Authority as one of the newest members of the global body.

IPCSA which highlighted NPA’s membership said: “NPA is advancing with several expansion and development projects. IPCSA membership is particularly significant for NPA, as they are in the process of developing a Port Community System. With support from IPCSA and the International Maritime Organisation, they aim to integrate the new PCS into the Nigerian National Single Window project. Both the PCS and SW are currently in the development phase, and NPA is collaborating with IPCSA and local stakeholders to ensure their successful completion.”