Ousted Agencies Plot Return To Ports Via Presidential Directive

 In a bid to enhance the efficiency in Nigeria ports and abide by the Presidential Executive Order on port operations, the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) reiterated that it would enforce the order that only seven (7) agencies are permitted to operate within the nation’s ports but the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has obtained Presidential directive to return to the ports.

This was disclosed by Ibrahim Nasiru, Principal Manager, Public Affairs at NPA said the directive communicated to the managing director of the agency in a memo from the ministry of transportation in 2011 instructed that: “a methodology which would ensure that only relevant cargoes are inspected by NDLEA, should be worked out”.

Other ousted agencies may begin processes to obtain special directives from the Presidency in order to return to the ports and this could negate the port efficiency which the executive order stands for.

The agencies allowed into the ports are the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Ports Health, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Security (DSS).

“We wish to categorically state that the Federal Government had earlier in 2011 streamlined the operations of the Agencies at the Ports with the view to ensuring swift Customer Service Delivery in the area of efficient clearance of cargoes.”

“In this regard therefore, the Management of the NPA wishes to unequivocally state that any other Agency that has not been listed as in the above in line with this Presidential Order should henceforth vacate operating from within the premises of the nation’s Seaports, adding that when required these other Agencies would be notified accordingly.” NPA said.