Port related corruption cases down to 55 from 266

As PSTT Gets N180m to Fight Corruption at Ports

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

Renown global rating agencies, the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) says related corruption cases in the Nigerian ports system has witnessed significant drop since the establishment of the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT), down to 55 cases in 2022, from 266 cases as at 2019.

The agencies noted that the only to sustain the gains recorded by the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) domiciled under the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) is through constant sensitization of state officials and port operators for all to imbibe the culture of compliance and commit to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in port operations.

Meanwhile, the federal government has approved the sum of N180 million for the STT to combat corruption at the nation’s seaports.

Speaking at a two-day training program with the theme ‘Capacity Building on Compliance Function and Leadership for Port Officials’, organised by CBi in conjunction with MACN, Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reform (TUGAR) in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer of CBI, Mr. Soji Apampa singled out the PSTT and its achievements since coming into being, saying that corrupt practices at Nigerian ports has now reduced to 55 cases in 2022, down from 266 cases in 2019.

Apampa said the cases fell to 128 cases in 2020, 84 in 2021 and then 55 last year, 2022, and urged the Executive Secretary of NSC, Mr. Emmanuel Jime and Coordinator of PSTT, Mr. Moses Fadipe not to relent or despair on account of the few remaining cases of recalcitrant stakeholders.

The training programme attracted officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, Port Health, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), truck owners, freight forwarders, private operators, among others.

Apampa  noted that the programme  was aimed at training the trainers in order to help change the perception and orientation of people towards leadership in their various work places, in order to reduce corruption within the port industry.

His words: “We know that the work of PSTT is gaining ground and we also know that the PSTT and the extended PSTT cannot be everywhere because some places where they have to enforce SOPs and following the Nigerian Port Process Manual, can be 200 nautical miles offshore;  so except they replicate themselves, and except everybody imbibes the culture of compliance, you will not be able to sustain it.

“So, what we had in mind was to inspire the officers who are involved to also inspire their own men to be more compliant. Many people feel because they are not the leaders they cannot be leaders but we are trying to show that you can lead your bosses, your peers and your subordinates. So, this programme is to expose them to those possibilities so that compliance can be stronger.

“My assessment is that people have been inspired, people have seen possibilities, they have been challenged and many people will go back and instead of saying why are they doing this to me, they will say what can I do and how can I do it to make sure this no longer happens. ”

He continued: “I think many people will go home with that start of leadership and that will be a good plus for the two days. The whole world is looking at you and the whole world is impressed with what you are doing in Nigeria. The world is saying how has Nigeria achieved this, we are impressed; we too need to go and tidy up our own house. That’s how the world is reacting,” he said.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Dr. Magdalene Ajani who announced the the PSTT Funding at the event directed the NSC, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to make the funds available. The agencies are also to provide operational vehicles for the use of the PSTT.

The Permanent Secretary who was represented by Babatunde Sule said each of the agencies is to provide N60million. She said, “The Federal Ministry of Transportation through the NSC, the Technical Unit on Government and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in collaboration with the MACN and CBI, Nigeria have built maritime sector is poised to augment its standing by further institutionalizing and continuously sustain its reforms.”