After PSTT Fizzled Out, Nigerian Ports Relapsing Back Into Corruption

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Mr Moses Olayemi Fadipe

—As Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal Replicate Nigeria’s PSTT Model

By DAPO OLAWUNI

There are indications that corrupt tendencies going on at Nigerian Ports, vis-a-vis bribe taking, illegal collection of cargo samples may have returned with full force, following the dissolution of the Presidential Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) spearheaded by the Nigerian Shippers Council.

According to Mr. Moses Fadipe, a retired Director at the Nigerian Shippers Council who was the National Coordinator of the PSTT, some of the government agencies have returned back taking large samples of imported cargoes without returning them back to owners.

He also noted that in the boarding and rummaging of vessels at berth, government officials are gradually relapsing back into demanding bribes and extortion of vessel captains.

According to him, while Nigeria dissolved its PSTT, neighboring countries like Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Senegal and Congo are currently replicating Nigeria’s PSTT and that the MACN/CBI has recently completed collateral risk assessment for Ghana.

It is on record that through the efforts of the PSTT, the Nigerian Shippers Council saved the nation a whooping N58.4 billion from interventions in legal cases, out-of-court settlements, and vessel demurrage savings and fines between 2021 and 2023.
 
Apart from this, the cost of a ship berthing in Nigeria, which is often aggravated by unreceipted extortions, drastically reduced from $150,000 per vessel that arrives in the country to about $20,000.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY TREND in Lagos on Wednesday, Fadipe called on the Federal Government to ensure sustainability of the gains of the PSTT in order for Nigeria not to relapse completely into the dark ages of corrupt practices at the port.

Fadipe who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Skynet Trueway International Limited, a Consultant to the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) however commended the MACN/CBI for trying to sustain the tempo of what the PSTT started, especially in protecting vessel captains from getting extorted at berth, and unnecessary demmurages and delays.

“When PSTT was active, there was a noticeable reduction in extortion and inefficiency, there was respite for port users and even the truckers. Also illegal sample taking was cut down to the barest minimum, but now that PSTT is no longer as active, issues have resurfaced and everyone is in a cheering mood that ‘oh the man has gone’ they are now back to business as usual, and the cost of doing business has increased. Who bears this cost? The citizens, who ultimately pay for the inefficiencies.

“When we were there, within a spate of five months, we were able to seize four 40-foot containers loaded to the brim, and it was auctioned by the ICPC at Tin Can Island Port, this is to tell you the extent of that decadence”

Fadipe stressed the need for the Shippers Council to sustain implementation and monitoring of the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) which spells out Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for each regulatory agency, thereby preventing overlapping of functions in the cargo clearance process.

While speaking on how the MACN/CBI is currently sustaining the momentum, Fadipe said “Let me quickly clarify something about the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is a private sector organization that looks after the interests of its members worldwide.

“Every nation has anti-corruption acts, like the UK Bribery Act, which hold CEOs accountable for any proven corrupt activities by their companies, even if the CEO was unaware. This is why every company must take its consequence management framework seriously, to prevent and penalize corrupt activities.

“MACN works worldwide and partners locally in each country. In Nigeria, they collaborate with the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI), headed by Soji Apampa.

“With tools like a monitoring dashboard, they can track vessel movements and ensure compliance from government agents as they board and perform duties, allowing for swift intervention if any issues arise. During PSTT’s active days, we operated similarly, allowing for prompt responses and reducing corruption opportunities”

The former PSTT National Coordinator however noted that while corruption at the port cannot be completely eliminated, it can be minimized through strong collaboration among government, private entities, and service providers.

“The government should lead by example, establishing clear expectations and enforcing a consequence management framework for each player in the space.
For instance, every agency should be prepared to face specific consequences if they overstep bounds.

“There’s also the Business Facilitation Act (BFA) of 2022, which aims to address corruption and inefficiency. MACN and CBI have been engaging with the government, particularly the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, to ensure it’s implemented properly. But as of now, no one seems to be actively enforcing it.

“The government should involve capable individuals who can drive positive change in the industry.

“This industry has incredible potential. It’s essential to bring Nigeria out of the woods and allow the sector to reach its full potential.

“However, challenges like high investment risk and corruption make investors hesitant. A government that’s proactive about these issues will foster a more favorable environment for growth” he said

Fadipe revealed that Ghana recently completed a collateral risk assessment and is now looking to replicate Nigeria’s Port Standing Task Team (PSTT). This is being driven by the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI), with the goal of creating a seamless process.

“Ghana is positioning itself to benefit from this initiative, and it’s even set to expand to countries like Togo, Cameroon, Senegal, and Congo.

“If Nigeria does not prioritize this, it could lose its leading role to Ghana, which could take the initiative and the recognition for it. Back in the 1970s, Nigeria led in this space, but the country now faces challenges in sustaining its leadership. Exporting services like these is essential.

“The PSTT initiative should have been government-led, supported by partnerships with other African authorities. Instead, private sector efforts are driving it forward, seeking government collaboration.

“However, progress is often stalled by bureaucratic delays. The private sector has approached the government to work together, but approvals often take months.

“Were it not for the private sector, the situation in the maritime sector would have regressed even further.

“This initiative has garnered international attention, with organizations like MACN and CBI keeping it in the spotlight, helping to counter the issues with corruption and inefficiencies in Nigeria’s ports”

Recall that in December 2020, the PSTT comprising the Shippers Council, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and DSS, was established. 

The collaboration between PSTT representing the Federal Government and the CBI/MACN in 2022 earned Nigeria international praisees as it won the Switzerland-based Basel Institute on Governance’s first-ever ‘Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action Award’.

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