By Godwin Oritse

IN a bid to improve automation of its operations, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has commenced  deployment of digital manifest management regime for all vessels calling at all Nigerian Ports.

In a statement signed by the Head of the Public Affairs  Department of the agency, Mr. Osagie Edward, the agency has also commenced the phasing out of  physical transactions concerning Sailing Certificates and cargo manifest processing, adding that   stakeholders are encouraged to fully embrace the Agency’s initiative by visiting the NIMASA portal. 

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In the statement, Director General of the Agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said the automation is aimed at further reducing human interface, improve efficiency and block revenue leakages. 

He stated: “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 require 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.

“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 boss explained that the move has improved efficiency leading to improvement in the turn-around-time of vessels calling at the nation’s Ports.

He 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 balance of trade, and improved commercial shipping activities in Nigeria.

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