By Fredrick Wright
Stakeholders in the industry are set to gather in Lagos to provide a leeway for an effective digitisation of Nigeria’s port system.
The Town Hall Meeting, being organized by the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers (LOMEP), is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 25th 2021 at Rockview Hotel, Apapa.
Public Relations Officer, LOMEP, Friday Odemena, said the group is offering a platform for stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry to discuss modalities for the digitalization of port operations.
“Digitalization of our port operations became more intense especially after the world was rattled by the Coronavirus pandemic which necessitated that anybody can work from any point and not necessarily in a work environment and being exposed to the disease,” he said.
Among the issues to be treated include, Automation of Port operations in today’s digital age”, which will be handled by NPA; “Enhancing automation at the ports, Nigerian Shippers’s Council perspective by the NSC; ” The impact of Digitalization on Nigerian Maritime workers by MWUN. Other papers will also include, ” Facilitating trade with Technology to boost Efficient Clearance of Goods by the NCS and ” the Impact of Digitalization on Shipping Development by the NIMASA.
Having critically followed the trends in Nigeria’s maritime industry for decades, Friday said the group believe that the time to digitalize Nigeria’s port operations is now.
According to him, the event will attract Mr Bello Koko Mohammed, the Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and Col. Hameed Ali(rtd), the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service( NCS).
Others speakers at the occasion would include Hon. Emmanuel Jime, the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers ‘ Council and Comrade Adeyanju, President of the Maritime workers Union of Nigeria(MWUN), and Princess Vicky Haastrup, Chair person of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN.
He said a communique, which would be issued at the end of the event will be presented to the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi for further action
