The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) will today launch an online procedure that will replace the manual Ship Entry Notice (SEN) application and certificate.
The launch of the e-SEN, which will hold 11am today at Eko Hotel, Lagos is expected to be attended by registered shipping companies/agents, terminal operators, lessees and other stakeholders.
NPA stated that the launch of the Electronic Ship Entry Notice (e-SEN) is in furtherance of its commitment to deliver efficient and customer-friendly port services.
In a bid to reduce vessel waiting time at Nigerian ports, NPA launched an electronic payment in February this year for transaction with its critical stakeholders.
Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, said that the Authority’s board had decided to automate its various ports and services for more effective and efficient cargo delivery.
According to the NPA boss, the management’s decision to “automate and integrate the various ports nationwide using the same information technology platform, thereby improving efficiency and reducing manual intervention in our processes.”
He said, “NPA acknowledges the problems our customers and other stakeholders have encountered in making payments for business dealings with us. Complaints of delays in payment confirmation, leading to vessel delay and other harrowing experiences are common place.
“We have therefore responded with a solution that guarantees multiple payments channels and reduce reconciliation challenges to the barest minimum. Some of the benefits of the e-payment platform include instant payment confirmation, elimination of human interference in the payment procedure, improves vessel turnaround time and also reduces cost of doing business in our port, which impact the nation’s economy.”
Abdullahi pointed out that the desire of NPA was to see the elimination of delay in confirmation of payment of provisional bills across the ports, long documentation and payment confirmation procedures.
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