Yemisi Izuora
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, has commended the partnership the Agency has enjoyed with the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, over the years.
Bello-Koko, in his speech during the celebration of International Customs Day 2024, with the theme of “Engaging Traditional & New Partners with Purpose” described it as a theme that delights the Nigerian Ports Authority as traditional partners of the Nigerian Customs.
“We are already recording gains from our renewed collaboration with the Nigerian Customs, which has led to noticeable reduced cargo dwell time and ship waiting time which has already decongestion of the Ports.
“This collaboration also gives fillip to our commitment to the deployment of the Port Community System (PCS) which the NPA has propelled to the final phase of consultancy under the technical guidance of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).” he stressed.
The Managing Director, explained that the PCS is germane to promoting efficiency and making our ports competitive as it lays the groudwork for the National Single Window.
He said the NPA commitment to positioning the Lekki Deep Seaport as transhippment hub to service the maritime needs of our landlocked neighbors will also benefit greatly from this collaboration
This alignment of vision between NPA and Nigerian Customs portends great fortune for trade facilitation and national prosperity, he said adding that maximizing the opportunities inherent in our littoral assets as a maritime nation rests heavily on this collaboration.
Bello-Koko, therefore commended and appreciated the Comptroller General, CG of the NCS, and his team for this new direction and assured everyone of NPAs unwavering commitment to this noble objective.