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Bello-Koko excites stakeholders with star performance

—-says Nigerian ports are still cheaper
—-as NPA remits over N89.9 billion in six months.
Eyewitness reporter
Mohammed Bello-Koko, the Acting Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has insisted that doing business at the Nigerian Ports is still cheaper despite the generally held belief in the industry.
Bello-Koko, who providence smiled on in May, 2021 when he was elevated to the position of the helmsman of the rich government parastatal following the indefinite suspension of Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, disproved this widely-believed myth when he presented his scorecard to the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbour.
In his account of his performance within the six months of his stewardship, the Acting MD said that
NPA has raised its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) between January and September 2021 by 120 percent.
According to documents he presented to the lawmakers, Bello- Koko said the NPA has also reduced its operating expenses by 20 per cent of its budget for this year.
 “As at the end of September 2021, the Authority earned N256.28bn in IGR as against the expected N214.65bn (approved estimate N271.70bn) for the same period, representing a performance of 120% or 95% of its total annual budget for 2021.
“For operating expenses, as at the end of September 2021, actual spending stood at N55.10bn as against the budgeted figure of N65.49bn, comprising employees’ benefits, pension costs, towage services, supplies, repairs & maintenance, and other administrative overheads.
“This indicates a “savings” of N10.39bn or 85% performance of the approved budget of N87.32bn.
“Furthermore, in compliance with the quarterly remittance of its operating surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) and provisions of the Finance Act 2020, the Authority has remitted the sum of N62.66bn to CRF for the year 2021 as of October 31, 2021, while a cumulative sum of N89.9bn has been transferred to the CRF in the last six months.
” At the current state of increased revenue drive, it is projected that the Authority will exceed its 2021 revenue projections and the projected transfer to the CRF for the year 2021 which is expected to be over N80bn, which would be the highest in the history of the Authority.
The NPA’s helmsman informed the House Committee that contrary to news reports insinuating that Nigerian ports are the most expensive in the sub-region,  a study commissioned by the Authority with the support of UKAid in 2019, indicated that it is cheaper for general and container vessels to berth in Nigeria than in Ghana or Togo.
He explained that a huge chunk of what shippers or cargo owners spend to clear their consignments include terminal and freight charges paid to terminal operators and shipping companies, payments for customs duty, inspection services, haulage, insurance and other sundry trade levies and fees, which are outside the purview of the Authority.
“Aside from the towage dues which were reviewed in 2015, Port tariffs in Nigeria have remained same since 1993”, he said.
Following his assumption of office in May this year, the Acting Managing Director has taken deliberate steps to reposition the Authority to focus on cost-optimization and quality service delivery while maximizing business value for port operators and users.
Accordingly, the Bello Koko-led Management has focused on improving the overall efficiency of the country’s port industry.
To support the economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government through the promotion of non-oil exports, the Authority has partnered with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for the establishment of third-party dedicated export terminals or export parks to be located in Lagos and Ogun states.
 The initiative is aimed at the processing, packaging, and certification of exports under a one stop platform that houses all relevant agencies responsible for quality control and regulatory validation of exports before shipment.
“The objective is to enhance and fast-track Nigerian export cargo for shipment at the export parks without any further port clearance protocol.
“A pilot project has been established at the Lilypond Container Terminal in Lagos, while 10 other exports terminals are in the process of being certified in order to begin operations by 1st quarter of 2022” Bello-Koko declared.
The Authority, according to him, is in the process of consolidating its various electronic platforms under a unified port community system.
He listed some of the technology platforms which the agency uses to boost service delivery to include, Oracle Financials and Human Resources Planning, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Revenue & Invoicing Management System (RIMS), e-Ship Entry Notice (e-SEN) and customs portal for online submission of bills.
Others are Hyperion budgeting, 3CI (Command, Control and Communication & Intelligence), Truck Call-Up Access Control, Harbours System Linked with the 3CI for harmonization of vessel operations.
“The Management agenda is to consolidate all the platforms into a single port community system to allow for ease of transaction and eliminate impediments associated with manual processes.
” It is noteworthy that, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is providing technical aid to the Authority for the development of the Port Community System” the NPA helmsman declared.
To ensure immediate commencement of port Infrastructure & Rehabilitation, he told the lawmakers that the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT) has constituted a Technical Committee with the purpose to identify the operational issues of the ports and assessing the state of the existing port Infrastructure starting with the ports in Lagos.
A technical consultant engaged for that study, he further disclosed,  has already concluded the preliminary assessment of the ports.
“The NPA is already reviewing alternative sources of long term, low-interest capital for port infrastructure development by engaging reputable funding institutions like the African Development Bank, the Chinese Exim Bank and other Infrastructure Development Agencies.
“In addition, port terminal operators are also being encouraged to explore such windows to fund the rehabilitation of the facilities and port equipment with amortisation as an option of recouping investments.
“This is to ensure immediate commencement of rehabilitation of the ports and quay walls and also deeper drafts to accommodate large modern-day vessels,” Bello Koko said.

The first public action of the Bello Koko-led management was to rejig the implementation of the electronic call-up system for trucks (known as ETO).
It ensured all identified lapses associated with the system were addressed, particularly breaches observed while the Taskforce saddled with the responsibility of enforcing compliance was in charge.
 Series of stakeholder engagements were held with the top hierarchy of the Military, the Nigerian Police, other security agencies, the Lagos State Government and other critical industry stakeholders.
 The outcome of these engagements led to tremendous improvement in travel time along the Apapa port access roads in Lagos.
The Authority in conjunction with the FMOT also reached out to the Federal Ministry of Works on the timely completion of the reconstruction of Sunrise Bus Stop to the Mile 2 stretch of the Tincan Island Port corridor.
To complement the above, the NPA also launched “Operation Green” to remove and clear all illegal structures and shanties on the Apapa and Tincan Island Port access roads.
 A great deal of success was recorded by this operation as exemplified by the resultant free flow of traffic to and from the ports.
The Authority is cashing on this success to embark on awareness and sensitization of port stakeholders to drum support towards the implementation of a sustainable policy on traffic decongestion along port corridors.
 In this regard, the NPA has just procured twenty-four (24) motorcycles to be added to existing assets and in support of continuing collaboration and operations for better traffic management to the ports.
The agency is also making efforts to address identified areas of security vulnerabilities with the deployment of Electronic Access Control with Apapa and Onne ports as pilot projects,  while procurement process has commenced for the full perimeter fencing of Tincan Island Port Area to further consolidate compliance with ISPS code.
Further compliance to ISPS code, especially as it relates to vulnerabilities of the port’s waterfront, Management has procured 13 units of  Security Patrol Boats (SPB) ready to be deployed across all pilotage districts including the establishment of Marine Police units in Calabar and Delta ports where none currently exists.
“This would reduce incidents of attack on vessels around the port area and boost the confidence of the international shipping community to use Nigerian ports.
“To enhance efficient marine services, particularly monitoring and facilitation of communication with vessels, the management renovated the dilapidated Control Towers at both Apapa and Tincan ports and new communication gadgets have been installed to ensure prompt and effective communication with vessels coming into the port channels.
” This has led to significant improvement in harbour services as well as an increase in port revenue. In addition, various marine equipment like Pilot Cutters, Security Patrol Boats and Tug Boats are also being deployed.
“To improve cargo evacuation from the port and facilitate the quick return of empty containers to the port, the management has reviewed the modalities for registration and operations of barges.
” The new regulatory framework which includes a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) took effect from 1st September 2021.
“It provides for enforcement of the safety and operational standards including the requirement to install radio communication equipment on-board to facilitate the sharing of traffic information.
“Furthermore, the Authority is in the process of deploying an electronic call-up system for barges, similar to the one for trucks, to streamline their operations and movements. It has approved rates for barge operations which will ensure more revenue to the Government.
“Similarly, the Authority has supported the use of privately managed jetties as part of measures to optimize inland barge services at the port.
” This has encouraged barging as a model for the promotion of inter-modal transportation.
” The use of barges has taken some pressure off the roads. The movement of cargo by barge this year alone has recorded well over 200,000 TEUs.
“This has also generated huge employment opportunities; in stevedoring, terminal operations and other marine services.
” It also becomes another revenue stream to the Authority in particular and Government in general.
“To address the menace created by trucks carrying empty containers and to ensure that Nigeria is not made a dumping ground for empties, the Authority began to enforce the return of empties, where vessels are compelled to ship back at least 80% of the number of imports shipped in.
“To guarantee the safety of records and documentation, the NPA Management recently commissioned an ultra-modern and fully digitalized archival system of document preservation and storage”
Bello-Koko told the lawmakers that he has managed to steady the ship by running an inclusive style of administration along with regular consultation with relevant agencies of government and trade groups operating in the port.
It is no surprise that the current NPA leadership has won plaudits from industry stakeholders for focusing on costs optimization to shore up revenue accruable to the government, exploring alternative funding sources to address aging port infrastructure and repositioning Nigeria as the hub for maritime trade in Africa.
As 2021 winds down, feelers from the new administration suggest that all hands are on deck to ensure that the Authority remains a veritable and profitable national asset, even as the Bello Koko-led management shore up its responsibilities to customers under a business-friendly port system, without compromising on security.

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Analyses

The invisible toll gates:Why National Single Window is Nigeria’s ultimate economic battleground

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
Walk into any market in Nigeria today, from the commercial hubs of Lagos to the roadside stalls in Yola, and ask why a bag of rice or an imported spare part costs three times what it did last year.
The typical public commentator will blame global inflation, floating currencies, or macro-economic shocks.
But those who understand logistics know the real truth lies buried under layers of paper, manual stamps, and artificial delays at our seaports.
Nigeria’s international trade is suffocating not from a lack of deep water, but from a deliberate design of convenience.
The recent operational rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) has triggered behind-the-scenes panic among Port cartels, and for good reason.
For decades, keeping our clearing processes fragmented, manual, and dependent on desk-to-desk human interaction was the perfect business model for syndicates.
When cargo dwell times drag on for 21 days, those delays are money in the pockets of the gatekeepers and a death sentence for local businesses.
Let us look at the raw field realities. The push by the Nigeria Customs Service to aggressively crash clearance times down to global 48-hour standards is meeting fierce internal resistance.
Why? Because a unified digital ecosystem means you cannot easily manipulate documentation, hide illicit cargo, or demand “mobilization fees” before signing off a container.
The outcry and protests from certain freight-forwarding syndicates aren’t about technical glitches; they are about the sudden closure of invisible toll gates.
This is exactly why governance at our national gateways can no longer be left to the mercy of transactional bureaucratic habits.
Building deep-sea infrastructure like Lekki Port is a massive physical achievement, but concrete and cranes are useless if the administrative processes at the gate remain backward.
 Real structural reform requires turning our Ports into automated, friction-free pipelines that prioritize production over rent-seeking.
If Nigeria wants to survive this fiscal squeeze, the National Single Window cannot just be treated as another glossy IT project launched in Abuja.
 It requires unyielding administrative enforcement to completely dismantle the corrupt cartels managing the manual desk chains.
The invisible toll gates at our Ports must be completely demolished, and that exact same structural discipline must be scaled across our border stations and trade corridors.
The era of managing international trade with 20th-century paper trails is dying. The future belongs to the builders of automated, transparent systems.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst,  writes from Abuja 
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Headlines

NANTA Exco embarks on seven-day Ghana retreat, fam trip to deepen regional tourism partnership

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day executive retreat and familiarisation (fam) trip to Ghana, hosted by Safari World, as part of efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and expand cross-border travel opportunities.

The NANTA delegation was received at Safari World Homes in Accra by the Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, who expressed delight at hosting the Nigerian travel trade leaders.

He assured the delegation of a memorable experience throughout their week-long stay.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation tour as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering stronger business relationships and promoting collaborative tourism development across Africa.

“This mission is not a leisure trip,” Folami said. “It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders.”

He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties that should be leveraged to drive tourism growth on the continent.

“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people. The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” he said.

“This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”

As part of the programme, the NANTA executives will engage in strategic business-to-business (B2B) meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, tour key tourism destinations under the Safari World brand, and participate in cultural exchange activities designed to promote stronger bilateral tourism cooperation.

The itinerary spans Safari World’s three flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, and Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.

Operating under the brand promise, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for leisure tourism, conferences, group travel, family holidays and premium tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from Nigeria and Ghana’s tourism industries will deliberate on strategies for deepening travel trade and advancing regional tourism development.

The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s tourism offerings, paving the way for the development of attractive travel packages and stronger business partnerships that will benefit Nigerian travellers and the wider West African tourism industry.

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Customs

Ogun Customs spurns claims of Smugglers’ takeover of Idiroko–Sango Ota trading Route

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false reports alleging that smugglers had taken over the Idiroko–Sango Ota trading route in Ogun State, describing the claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of a traffic incident.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Chado, the Command clarified that the traffic gridlock on the route resulted from the breakdown of an articulated commercial trailer after it fell into a badly deteriorated section of Atan Road, temporarily obstructing the free flow of traffic.
According to the Command, the vehicles caught in the ensuing congestion were legitimate commercial trucks transporting red palm oil to various local markets and had no connection whatsoever with smuggling activities.
It explained that the large number of heavy-duty trucks trapped in the gridlock may have led some members of the public to wrongly conclude that smugglers had taken over the road.
“The reports that smugglers blocked the road are inaccurate. The disruption resulted from a road accident and poor road conditions. The vehicles involved were lawful commercial vehicles transporting red palm oil for legitimate trade,” Chado stated.
The Command urged journalists, social media users and the general public to verify information before disseminating reports capable of creating unnecessary panic or undermining public confidence in security agencies.
Observers within the border trade sector noted that the allegation does not reflect the prevailing security situation within the Ogun I Area Command, where anti-smuggling operations have been intensified under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller O.O. Afeni.
Since assuming office, Comptroller Afeni has strengthened intelligence-driven surveillance, enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and host communities, and sustained pressure on economic saboteurs operating along the Ogun border corridors.
These measures, according to stakeholders, have resulted in significant seizures of prohibited goods and reinforced the Command’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and territorial integrity.
Maritime and border trade stakeholders also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining the efforts of security personnel or creating a false impression of lawlessness in border communities.
They stressed that while combating smuggling remains an ongoing responsibility, responsible and accurate reporting is equally critical to ensuring that operational achievements are not overshadowed by misinformation.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its anti-smuggling campaign while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade in line with the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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