By Jafar Omoniyi
The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners says the Federal Government’s Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) will stimulate quicker cargo clearance at the nation’s ports.
President of TMP, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, made this remark while speaking on the automation of port facilities, on Thursday, in Lagos.
According to him, the project would also boost NPA’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and enhance the country’s global visibility.
TheNewsZenith quotes the Association’s president as observing that the world had moved beyond conventional methods of doing business with the advancement of technology.
“More than 30 years ago, Singapore grew from a third-world country to a first-world country.
“Singaporean President, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, led the drive for technology awareness, and now Singapore has advanced in technology.
“So, Nigeria must make more efforts to keep abreast with technological advancements worldwide.
“The Trade Modernisation Project would add value in terms of IGR through improved customs clearance procedures.
“Consider the time when we had to carry files around to now that everything is done through ICT.
“Nigeria must modernise and I am glad this initiative is underway,” he said.
The Master Mariner emphasised that without trade, growth is impossible.
He added that creating an atmosphere conducive to trade “is essential to reap its benefits”.
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Alao assured Nigerians of the tremendous benefits that would follow the establishment of the Trade Modernisation Project, adding that master mariners were upgrading themselves globally to remain relevant in the maritime industry.
The TMP, he said, would enable Nigeria to become a shipping hub for West and Central Africa.
Alao commended terminal operators for upgrading the access corridors at the port. He urged them to enhance other facilities to reduce business processing time.
Mr Ahmed Ogunshola, the General Manager of the Trade Facilitation Project, explained the benefits accruable when a nation fully automate its Customs Modernisation Project (CMP).
TheNewsZenith recalls that the Federal Government and Trade Modernisation Project Ltd. signed a 20-year Concession Agreement on May 30, 2022.
The concession will provide best-in-class technology for paperless Customs operations in Nigeria.
Ogunshola explained that TMP is the automation of the business processes of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He said that the project would simplify and enhance the experience of stakeholders in the trade value chain.
This will make it easy to for traders to obtain import and export clearances, pay duties and obtain the release of goods.
Ogunshola said the project would generate more than $250 billion for the Federal Government over the life of the concession.
“The project will bring Nigeria to par with the rest of the world, in terms of deploying technology to facilitate international trade,” he said.
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