Oyetola Seeks Presidential Powers to Enforce Use of Scanners At Port
Minister of Transportation, Adegboyega Oyetola
…Sets to Launch Blue Economy Roadmap
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola has assured that his ministry would work towards getting the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu in order to ensure compulsory use of scannig machines at Nigerian ports.
The Minister has also informed that the rehabilitation of dilapidated infrastructures across Nigerian ports would gulp a whooping $1 billion dollars.
Oyetola stated this at a maritime interactive session held during the 29th Nigerian Economic Summit by Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Monday.
Oyetola said the use of scanners should be imperative all all the ports of the nation, even as he wondered why the Nigeria Customs Service should be subjecting all imported containers to 100 percent physical examination.
“The use of scanner is imperative and the Customs CG has to buy into what we are saying.
“Attitudinal problems is what we have because even if we have ten scanners and the boys refuse to do the right thing, we are wasting our time.
“We have to get the endorsement of president that scanners must be used at the ports,” he stated.
Speaking further, he said “One of the things we are trying to do now is the rehabilitation of all the ports and it will cost a billion dollars and if we don’t do that, the ports will collapse
“One of the problems we have is that we lack maintenance culture.”
The Minister also hinted that the ministry is ready to launch a roadmap into harnessing the potentials of the blue economy in Nigeria.
“Very soon, we will be talking of launching the roadmap and some of these things will be incorporated in the roadmap.
“We are here tonight to discuss on some of the challenges of the Maritime sector and to advise on some of the policies and innovative ideas to make it the best regionally and internationally
“We understand the critical role the Maritime plays in an economy such as ours. It is imperative that we quickly move towards improving the navigability of the waters, build the draughts of our ports and shift to 24 to 48 hours cargo clearance, ensure adequate connectivity from port to hinterland, efficient road network,” he maintained.
