The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday formally received the consultant’s report for the implementation of the Nigerian Port Community System (PCS).
The report was submitted by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in collaboration with the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA).
The implementation of the PCS aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to comply with the April 2019 Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The primary objectives of the FAL Convention are to prevent unnecessary delays in maritime traffic, enhance cooperation between governments, and ensure a high degree of uniformity in procedures.
The PCS is designed as an open electronic platform connecting existing systems and databases of various companies and organizations within the port community. One of its key objectives is to facilitate secure and intelligent operational data exchange and consolidation within the port network.
During the event, Minister Oyetola expressed his satisfaction with the milestone, stating, “On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and indeed the Government of Nigeria, I would like to register our profound delight on this milestone step towards the implementation of the Port Community System (PCS). This initiative aims to position the good people of Nigeria to reap the benefits of global trade.
“I will like to commend the current management of the Nigerian Ports Authority under the leadership of Mohammed Bello-Koko for the tenacity of purpose and foresight to enlist the technical guidance of the IMO which led to appointment of a consultant in 2022 and whose relentless drive propelled us to the milestone point we gathered here to witness today.
“I, therefore, want to assure you of my readiness to take a frontline role in the attainment of this noble objective.”
Mohammed Bello-Koko, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, emphasized the importance of automation in making ports competitive.
He said: “As someone who has always insisted on the self-evident fact that automation remains the most sustainable path to making our ports competitive, I knew I had to pursue the implementation of the PCS.
“PCS by its operational dynamics eliminates all forms of human interface and attendant delays with greater vigour.
“So we intensified our synergy with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the technical guidance necessary to actualize the PCS which actually lays the groundwork for the implementation of the national single window.”
