The Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) has called for stronger inter-agency coordination and faster processes to improve Nigeria's competitiveness in regional and international trade. At its quarterly meeting in Lagos, stakeholders examined measures to simplify cross-border trade and enhance ease of doing business at Nigerian ports. The meeting aimed to review operational challenges and seek practical solutions.
The Chairman of the Council, Mr Bolaji Sunmola, expressed concern over persistent challenges confronting Nigerian ports, including the resurgence of traffic gridlock around Lagos ports. He said the long-standing aspiration of positioning Nigerian ports as a hub for West and Central Africa would remain difficult to achieve without addressing operational and infrastructure bottlenecks.
The NPCC exists to bring stakeholders with real operational challenges together with relevant government agencies to develop practical solutions. Sunmola said the Council wants each agency to come forward, share their experiences, and offer solutions to the numerous challenges. This approach aims to foster collaboration and address issues affecting trade.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) announced that its Maritime Electronic Management System (MEMS) is now live. The platform will strengthen digital traceability, improve visibility into vessel movements and operational records, and support faster regulatory decisions. MEMS will deploy centralised data, automated alerts, and smart invoicing to improve documentation and reduce manual processes.
According to NIMASA's Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, ease of doing business begins before a vessel arrives at the port, requiring predictable pre-arrival requirements, timely certification, proportionate inspections, and prompt resolution of regulatory issues. The Federal Government targets reducing average cargo clearance time from 21 days to under seven days.
The Vice Chairman of the NPCC, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere SAN, said Nigerian ports must move beyond simply functioning to becoming seamless, transparent, predictable, and business-friendly gateways for trade. She stressed that port efficiency cannot be achieved by one institution working in isolation and that the NPCC's quarterly engagements aim to bring agencies and industry stakeholders together to identify bottlenecks and develop coordinated solutions.
Anishere also identified efficient dispute resolution mechanisms, particularly maritime and commercial arbitration, as important to investor confidence and participation in international trade. The NPCC will continue to engage relevant stakeholders and ensure that its recommendations are brought before the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Key points
- The Nigerian Ports Consultative Council pushes for stronger inter-agency coordination and faster processes to improve Nigeria's competitiveness in regional and international trade.
- NIMASA's Maritime Electronic Management System aims to strengthen digital traceability and improve visibility into vessel movements and operational records.
- The Federal Government targets reducing average cargo clearance time from 21 days to under seven days.
