*Concludes stakeholder engagement with PEBEC on 7-day cargo dwell time
WorldStage– Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has drop hint of ongoing efforts by the NPA, in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to deploy the Port Community System (PCS), which would serve as the digital backbone for the National Single Window
A Port Community System (PCS) is a digital platform that connects various stakeholders in a port’s ecosystem, facilitating seamless information exchange and streamlining port operations. It integrates data from shipping lines, terminals, customs, and other parties to enhance efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, and boost competitiveness.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Mr Abubakar Dantsoho who spoke at a three-day stakeholder engagement aimed at streamlining port operations and reducing cargo dwell time said the PCS is expected to eliminate manual bottlenecks, improve data sharing and synchronise port operations across agencies, thereby significantly enhancing efficiency.
The three-day stakeholder engagement with the theme of the engagement is “Achieving a 7-Day Cargo Dwell Time” was in collaboration with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
It brought together members of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee (PCEC) under the Business Environment Enhancement Programme Accelerator (BEEPA) framework.
According to a statement, the event, hosted by the NPA, was designed to enhance ease of doing business at Nigerian ports through practical reforms targeted at improving efficiency.
It explained that the programme, held at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, followed an extensive “shadowing” exercise in which officials observed real-time vessel berthing and cargo clearance operations at both the Tincan Island and Lagos Port complexes.
The exercise provided first-hand insights into operational gaps and bottlenecks affecting turnaround time at the ports.
Speaking at the engagement, the Director-General of PEBEC, Hajia Zahrah Mustapha, said the initiative was designed to move beyond problem identification to the implementation of long-overdue solutions.
“Nigeria loses significantly every day due to operational inefficiencies. These are not just numbers; they represent missed opportunities, jobs not created and delayed economic growth.
“This reform is about resilience and unlocking the nation’s economic potential,” Mustapha said.
She explained that the initiative deliberately integrates government regulators and private-sector stakeholders to promote transparency, accountability and shared ownership of reforms, with the ultimate objective of reducing cargo dwell time and improving vessel turnaround.
