The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, received the implementation report of the Port Community System (PCS) from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA) in Abuja.

Mr. Oyetola highlighted that the PCS aligns with the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), aiming to prevent unnecessary delays in maritime traffic and enhance cooperation between governments.

He emphasized the importance of electronic FAL declarations, mandated by the FAL convention of April 2019, as a preparatory step for enforcing the single window approach in 2024.

Expressing satisfaction with the progress, Mr. Oyetola commended NPA’s management for their foresight in enlisting technical guidance from the IMO and appointing a consultant in 2022.

NPA’s managing director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, described the submission of the consultant’s report as a significant milestone, setting the stage for procuring the company to deploy the PCS.

Bello-Koko affirmed NPA’s commitment to implementing the project diligently, emphasizing the PCS’s potential to eliminate human interface and associated delays.

The PCS serves as an open electronic platform facilitating secure data exchange and consolidation within the port network, enhancing operational efficiency.

Overall, the concise update highlights the collaborative efforts between government and industry stakeholders to modernize port operations and streamline maritime trade processes.