By Godwin Oritse
THE Nigerian PortConsultative Council, NPCC, has expressed support for the Single Window Project calling for the quick implementation in order to improve ease of doing business in the nationsc.
In a statement by the Chairman of the Council, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola said that the project when fully implemented will not only increase the Ease of Doing Business in Nigerian Ports, it will further assist the facilitation of trade in ports and border ports.
Sunmola stated that the Council is ready to assist the implementation project by way of monitoring its progress and give necessary advisory support.
He said: The NPCC about ten years ago went on a visit to Ghana to understudy its Port Community System and it was shocking to find out that that they had implemented the Single Window System.
Sadly, ten years after that visit, Nigeria is still grappling with the project. At NPCC, we hope that with the inauguration of the Single Window Committee by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has charged the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, we are filled with expectation that this will eventually take off.
The NPCC urged the immediate commencement of the project across all ports in Nigeria directed by the President. The Council suggests that the project be implemented on a port by port basis until it is perfected across all ports.
The commencement of the Single Window project will not only enhance trade facilitation, it will block revenue leakage and make Nigerian ports more competitive.
The inauguration and the expected implementation of the Single Window Project is one of the best trade policy the current administration has come up with as it will change the face of trade in Nigeria and possibly checkmate the activities of smugglers and redirect Nigerian bound cargoes that had been diverted to port of neigbouring countries.
