Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
The Convention on Business Integrity (CBi) and Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) has shown a strong strength in the reform of the Nigerian port.
This as CBI in collaboration with MACN hosted a conference in Port Harcourt, for stakeholders who works in port.
The organisers of the conference said the key stakeholders were selected from the public, private, and civil society sectors to review and strengthen the response to the regulatory and corruption-related challenges that were said to have continued to constrain the ease of doing business in eastern and western ports.
Chief Executive Officer of CBI, Olusoji Apampa, said though the CBI was not an enforcer but the Port Standard Task Team (PSTT) serves as a cross-sector enforcer as team made up of government agencies in the sector.
He said the conference was for Integrity alliance members who have volunteered to not only do things with due process but to also raise red flags wherever infraction was seen in the ports.
On his part, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Port Standing Task Team (PSTT), Moses Fadipe, explained that technology can boost compliance and reduce corruption, saying it helps to know what is in a vessel ahead.
The PSTT coordinator said no vessel comes to Nigeria’s territorial waters without real time information. “We know what is happening in each vessel coming in”.
Speaking on “Regulator-Private Sector Collaboration: Options for Strengthening and Sustaining Compliance Partnerships”, Fadipe said the team recognizes the importance of fostering efficiency and transparency in port operations.
“We understand that the integrity of the international trade ecosystem is paramount to sustainable economic growth and the facilitation of seamless global commerce.”
Fadipe insisted that collaboration between the regulatory authorities and the private sector was imperative for achieving sustainable progress.
“Both parties are integral to the success of our endeavours. The public sector holds the responsibility of establishing and enforcing regulations, while the private sector possesses the expertise, resources, and innovation necessary to drive efficiency and provide quality services.”
In his keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Export Operations Management (IEOM), Ofon Udofia, said for trade to thrive, the port users must be treated as the lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy, thus integrity needs.
