What we need is the commitment and dedication of all stakeholders in the industry rather than pointing accusing fingers. We need to wake up from our slumber and do the right thing. If everyone does what is expected of them by doing the right thing, then the new maritime order we are talking about will be achieved. What is the backbone of corruption? It is the human contact. If you don’t meet or interface with people, who would you give the bribe? So automation is the ultimate. It is all about removing the human factor and every other thing will fall in place. We have been talking of the single window for a very long time. If the single window can be implemented, all the human contact would be eliminated.
Winner Anayo
The key to a sustainable maritime sector is having a single window where
all stakeholders operation will be integrated into and which will also
allow access to information because information is vital in moving the sector forward. With that, Customs and other agencies will key in and information will be readily available. Automation is the way to go if we must go in line with global best practice and it is heart warming that the President is said to have given approval for the single window platform. So I believe with that, very soon we will make headway in the sector. Provision of relevant infrastructure is also very important and I think government should pay urgent attention to this. Movement of our cargoes by train from the port will also help in achieving a sustainable sector.
Mohammed Rufai
It is not farfetched. It is all about policy implementation and not just
by making policy statements but there should be a follow up with proper
implementation. That is the only way I think we can move forward in the
industry. There are so many potentials in the maritime sector but lack
of policy implementation sometimes has been a setback to achieving these
potentials.
Monday Eguoje
Apart from having a single window platform for all agencies in the
sector, I think we can also achieve a sustainable maritime sector by defining the role and functions of each of the agencies in order to avoid overlapping functions. Agencies performing overlapping functions are part of the problems that are affecting the growth and development of the sector. So we need to sit down and streamline the role of each of the agencies in the sector. Like the functions of NIMASA and NIWA as it concerns fishing trawling business should be looked into to avoid over lapping functions as we have happening today.
Popoola Babatunde
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