The Mohammed Bello-Koko administration at Nigerian Ports Authority came on board in May 2021 with so many promises. Having served the previous administration of former Managing Director, Hadiza Usman, a lot was expected, especially in terms of putting a right some wrongs, from Mr. Bello-Koko.
Bello-Koko’s resume and profile suggests that he is experienced to occupy the position. Until his latest appointment, the 51-year-old Kebbi State indigene served as the Executive Director (ED), Finance and Administration. He was appointed in 2016, and is not just one of the longest serving EDs, and member of the management team, but also, one, who has exemplified himself with his penchant for good corporate governance and best practices. On assuming office in May 2021, the Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, pledged the Agency’s determination to reposition the nation’s seaports for greater efficiency, safety and accountability. Modest achievements of Bello-Koko’s less than a year tenure have been a topic on the lips of many stakeholders in the maritime sector.
The Agency under his supervision is addressing all bottlenecks at Ports across the nation, for efficient maritime trade in the country. He promised to ensure growth, competitiveness and future-readiness of the nation’s seaport systems. The 52-year old, Kebbi born Management Professional said he is poised to create and sustain competitive advantage by offering its best in port operations. True to his promise, the Agency has created a competitive advantage, by offering its best in port operations.
With effect from September 1, 2021, a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which must be complied with by all barge operators on Nigerian waters, was introduced under his supervision.
The Agency reviewed the modalities for the registration of barge operating license with emphasis on operators meeting the minimum safety standards ((MSS) of their barges. Failure to meet this requirement would force the NPA to bar such operators from using the channels. Under the new set of regulations, an electronic call up system is being developed for deployment for barge operations in which barges would remain at their anchor until they are called to pick, or discharge cargo.
Recently, NPA disclosed that the construction of the much awaited Bonny Deep Seaport operations would kick off within the year and run concurrently with the construction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line, which also extends to the seaport. While the southeast part of the Island is also viable, the most feasible may be the area to the West in Finima, as it would require less dredging.
Through NPA’s efforts a right location for the port was chosen. The deep seaport has a natural draft of about 17metres.
When completed the seaport will have a capacity of about 500,000 TEUs. Experts have said the seaport is a necessary infrastructure for Nigeria.
Bello-Koko once said Nigeria has over 823 kilometres of coastline, noting that the idea of building deep seaports will bring more economic value to the country, which will eventually become a maritime hub in Africa or the West African sub-region.
Bello-Koko has proven to critics that he is armed with all necessary qualifications, experience and skills. Many industry stakeholders are of the view that he has all it takes to easily accomplish this responsibility of overseeing the affairs of NPA and performing the functions of the CEO as provided in the act establishing the agency. He has not proven them wrong.
Under his supervision, the Agency he supervises has been working with relevant agencies such as Customs, to auction the overtime containers in a bid to decongest the seaports. Over the years, the increasing rate of abandoned cargoes currently causing congestion at the seaports has triggered concerns among the stakeholders. With his help, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have immediately swung into action to decongest the ports.
Importers have abandoned the cargoes at the seaport due to cumbersome Customs procedures and high cost of clearance. This worrisome development is being addressed by NPA.
A cargo is classified as overtime if it stays more than 90 days in the seaport after discharge from the ship and such cargoes are subject to seizure by Customs.
Bello-Koko, at an interactive session organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Customs, said there are over 5,000 overtime containers across the seaports in the country with some occupying space over a year.
With this development, the containers would be evacuated to Ikorodu terminal. Currently Ikorodu terminal has over 2,500 containers.
Bello-Koko led Nigerian Ports Authority is also set to partner with the United Kingdom Border Force, on port security and facilitation of legitimate movement of persons and goods at all seaports in the country.
This partnership covers security measures, coordination, information sharing and joint operations, to check persons or activities that may cause harm to operations and investments in the nation’s port industry. This partnership will definitely engender efficiency and value for money in all aspects of port business in Nigeria.
The Border Force is a law enforcement agency charged by the UK government to manage immigration and customs checks at all British seaports and airports.
The collaboration with the NPA entails the establishment of an Electronic Cargo Targeting System (ECTS), a Joint Port Control Unit (JPU) and a Mobile Task Force (MTF) with the capacity to enhance the work of Nigerian law enforcement agencies operating within the nation’s maritime domain by providing real-time data and business arterial intelligence tools.
Bello-Koko has also commissioned an e-documents management and records solution centre at the corporate headquarters of NPA in Marina, Lagos.
This will improve seamless customer-based services and operations as well as data storage. Known for his strategic intentions, Bello-Koko said the initiative will sustain competitiveness in the sub-region by giving priority to documents’ safety through automation and digitisation.
Koko stated that in adherence to the authority’s plan to deploy a 360-degree document management solution, by migrating from physical archiving to digitisation via Electronic Documents Management Solution (EDMS).
These are few mentions among several sterling strides carried out by Mohammed Bello-Koko at the NPA headquarters, Marina, Lagos.
Olamide Adeniji is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper
