IMO Partners NIMASA, NPA, Others in Building Single Window Trade Patform at Nigerian Ports

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is partnering the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Nigeria Customs Service among other agencies and ministries on the development of a single window trade platform callled; Port Community System (PCS) for electronic data exchange for Nigerian ports.

DAILY TREND NEWS reports that it has proved difficult for the various government agencies at the port to build a single window for trade purposes, even as many of them battle for who should control the platform.

This made the Federal Government to settle for a Port Community System which would make all the agencies interact with one another in terms of data exchange.

The Port Community System is a neutral platform that allows the exchange of electronic information between various stakeholders, which has become an increasingly important part of simplifying cross-border trade.

IMO disclosed that from January to June 2022, it will work with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to conduct a detailed needs assessment mission.

IMO stated that the assessment team will conduct an analysis of the current situation and put forward recommendations on the governance, business model, technology and identify any gaps to be addressed. “This will ensure that Nigerian ports benefit from an effective operational country-wide PCS to enhance the economy of the country,” noted IMO.

According to IMO, the assessment mission is phase two of a project which began in 2021 with a series of IMO-led webinars (between August and November 2021) which aimed to raise awareness among Nigerian stakeholders about key aspects of a PCS. This series identified the opportunities and challenges for developing a national PCS in Nigeria.

More than 60 senior management participants from Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Customs Service, Immigration, Health services, Agricultural services, Ministry of transportation, as well as port terminal operators, shipping companies, ship agents, importers and exporters participated.