As Nigeria celebrates its 64th Independence anniversary, the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (RGT) has called on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to commission an independent study of port operations systems. This, the Centre suggests, is a vital step towards optimizing Nigeria’s ports for integration into the broader Blue Economy concept, which seeks to enhance economic growth through sustainable maritime activities.
In a statement released as part of its third-quarter bulletin for 2024, the Centre emphasized the need for the Ministry to address issues highlighted in the first part of the bulletin, which focused on the inefficiencies within the maritime industry. The Centre expressed concerns over potential delays and discrepancies in revenue declarations by certain agencies, stressing that such lapses could undermine the government’s financial interests.
Dr. Eugene Nweke, Head of Research at the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre, underscored the necessity for reform, citing the existence of practices that compromise transparency and accountability. He pointed to several critical issues contributing to underreporting and revenue leakage, including unofficial payments, corruption, lack of oversight, and the complexity of port operations.
“Unofficial and unreceipted fees, coupled with corruption and personal enrichment, contribute to the gross underreporting of revenue that should rightly flow into the government’s coffers,” Dr. Nweke said. He further elaborated on the lack of transparency and insufficient oversight from regulatory bodies as key drivers of these challenges.
Dr. Nweke recommended a series of steps to tackle these issues, including strengthening transparency through regular audits, enhancing regulatory oversight, and instituting internal controls to prevent corruption. He also emphasized the need for a cultural shift towards integrity and accountability within the maritime agencies, supported by legislative reforms.
- Advertisement -
The Centre urged the Ministry to ensure that these measures are not overshadowed by the focus on the Blue Economy projects. “While the evolution of the Blue Economy is essential, repositioning our ports for optimal efficiency and competitiveness should be a parallel priority,” Dr. Nweke added. He concluded by advocating for an independent study of the port operations system to serve as a foundation for these reforms.
The bulletin concluded with an Independence Day greeting to all Nigerians, reiterating the Centre’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s maritime sector.
