…As Jamoh reduces human interface, improves Vessel turnaround time and blocks Revenue loopholes***
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) sailed into the new year, announcing the commencement of a total digital manifest management regime for all vessels calling at all Nigerian Ports.
The Agency Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh who disclosed this, pointing out that Physical transactions concerning Sailing Certificates and cargo manifest processing would be phased out completely, also said that the automation vision is aimed at further reducing human interaction, so as to improve efficiency and block revenue leakages.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders to fully embrace the Agency’s initiative by visiting the NIMASA portal.
According to him, “In line with the Federal Government’s Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business, we are committed to improving turnaround time of vessels, reduction of human interface in majority of our transactions with our stakeholders and this is in our bid to ensure transparency and professionalism that the sector requires to grow.”
“We have improved our operational relationship with our sister Agencies, as we speak, we have made tremendous progress in our determination to convey sailing clearance for Vessels to the NPA electronically.
We also receive and process manifests electronically”, Jamoh said, adding that the gesture had equally improved efficiency, leading to a corresponding improvement in turn-around-time of vessels calling at the nation’s ports.
“Right now we have ensured that the process of submitting and processing manifests is reduced from 72Hours to 5hours for VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers) and larger container vessels, whereas it would only take two hours or less for smaller vessels), you would agree with me that these are marked improvement and its still work in progress.
The NIMASA DG noted that the benefits that would be derived from the total digitalization of all the Agency’s processes expected to be completed by 2022 would be enormous; not just for the Stakeholders, but for the country at large, including helping to improve the balance of trade, and improved commercial shipping activities in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the Dr. Bashir Jamoh-led administration had always advocated the automation of the Agency’s processes for enhanced and effective delivery of services.
Expatiating on this, the Agency’s Assistant Director, Public Relations, Osagie Edward said this renewed drive is actually another stride in the total transformation of the maritime sector for enhanced economic benefit.
