The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA) have presented a report for the implementation of the Port Community System (PCS) to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, in Abuja.
Oyetola, while receiving the report on Tuesday, said the PCS was primarily for the country to comply with the dictates of the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
According to the former Osun State governor, the objectives of the organizations included preventing unnecessary delays in maritime traffic, aiding cooperation between governments, and securing a practicable degree of uniformity in formalities and other procedures.
He noted that the FAL Convention of April 2019 made it mandatory for ships and ports to exchange FAL declarations electronically, preparatory to the enforcement of the single window approach in 2024.
”I will like to register our profound delight at this milestone step towards the implementation of the PCS in Nigeria, which is geared towards positioning the people to reap the benefits of global trade.
”I will like to commend the current management of the NPA for the tenacity of purpose and foresight to enlist the technical guidance of the IMO, which led to the appointment of a consultant in 2022.
”I, therefore, want to assure you of my readiness to take a frontline role in the attainment of this noble objective,” Oyetola said.
Speaking on the occasion, the Managing Director/CEO of NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, described the submission of the consultant’s report as a milestone that had been looked forward to.
Bello-Koko said the report would set the pace for the most important part of the project, which was the procurement by the company to deploy the PCS.
”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.
“PSC, by its operational dynamics, eliminates all forms of human interface and attendant delays with greater vigour.
”So, we intensified our synergy with the IMO for the technical guidance necessary to actualize the PCS, which actually lays the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window.
”I will like to, on behalf of all of us at the NPA, assure the Minister of the diligence, determination, and discipline required to make the implementation of this project of national importance a reality,” he said.
PCS is an open electronic platform that connects individual existing systems and databases of distinct companies and organisations.
The main purpose of the PCS is to enable secure and intelligent operational data exchange and consolidation within the port network.
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