By Our Correspondent
Lagos, April 19, ’25 (TNZ) Dr Eugene Nweke, former President of the Nigeria Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), says only political will can make the 24-hour port operations achievable.
TheNewsZenith reports Nweke made the remarks during the Fifth Town-Hall meeting organised by JournalNG recently in Lagos.
“A 24-hour port operation is achievable if the government gives a clear order to this effect.
“Government should get a regulatory agency to supervise port operations accurately for monitoring and evaluation.
“Once everyone knows what to do, operators will be guided. It will not be a situation where government issue port order without monitoring and no enforcement.
“So, we need a political will to drive our ports for 24-hour operations in Nigeria,” TheNewsZenith quotes Nweke as saying.
He advised government agencies and other stakeholders to consider the transformation as a necessity.
The former NAGAFF chief noted that collaboration and partnership among stakeholders would enable both government and port users achieve 24-hour port operations.
“We should strive to remove any identified bottlenecks that may delay the achievement of 24-hour ports operations.
“Port communities are meant for commercial activities. Government should provide all necessary infrastructure at the ports to avoid unnecessary human element.”
Also speaking, Mr Bolaji Sunmola, the Chairman Nigeria Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), remarked that quest to actualise 24-hour port operations in Nigerian seaports “is no longer aspirational but necessary”.
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Sunmola said that with a carefully sequence of strategies anchored on technology, sustainability, and stakeholder alignment, Nigerian ports could become efficient, secured, and transformative assets.
He reaffirmed NPCC’s commitment to this vision by inviting all stakeholders: MDAs, port operators, energy providers, transport unions, and investors to join in executing this transformation.
Mr Abass Oladepo, the Assistant Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), said NCS had been operating 24-hour port operations.
Oladepo said that Customs at Ports and Terminal Multi Services Ltd. (PTML) command has also begun two-hour cargo clearance.
He added that averagely in one year, the command had achieved less than six-hour ports clearance.
The town hall meeting, the comptroller said, aims to sensitise stakeholders on customs transformation known as B’Odogwu.
He urged importers to engage in honest declaration to enable them achieve few minutes cargo clearance.
In his opening remarks, Mr Ismail Aniemu, the Publisher JournalNG Magazine, said the forum provided opportunities for stakeholders to interact and exchange ideas.
It also enables them to come up with workable recommendations to guide government in policy making for smooth port operations.
“Many Nigerian ports require upgrading to smart ports. Nigeria had competent expert that can assist government to actualise the dream,” TheNewsZenith quotes Aniemu as saying. (TNZ)
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