The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has received the report for the implementation of the Port Community System (PCS) from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA).

Receiving the report in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr Oyetola said the PCS was primarily for the country to comply with the dictates of the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

He said the objectives of the organisations included preventing unnecessary delays in maritime traffic, aiding cooperation between governments, and securing a practicable degree of uniformity in formalities and other procedures.

Mr Oyetola noted that the FAL convention of April 2019 made it mandatory for ships and ports to exchange FAL declarations electronically, preparatory to the enforcement of the single window approach in 2024.

”I would like to register our profound delight on this milestone step toward implementing the PCS in Nigeria, which is geared towards positioning the people to reap the benefits of global trade.

”I would like to commend the current management of the NPA for the tenacity of purpose and foresight to enlist the technical guidance of the IMO, which led to the appointment of a consultant in 2022.

”I, therefore, want to assure you of my readiness to take a frontline role in attaining this noble objective,” Mr Oyetola said.

NPA’s managing director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said submitting the consultant’s report was a milestone that had been looked forward to.

Mr Bello-Koko said the report would set the pace for the most important part of the project, which was the procurement of the company to deploy the PCS.

”PSC, by its operational dynamics, eliminates all forms of human interface and attendant delays with greater vigour.

”I would like to, on behalf of all of us at the NPA, assure the minister of the diligence, determination and discipline required to implement this project of national importance a reality,” he said.

PCS is an open electronic platform that connects individual existing systems and databases of distinct companies and organisations.

The main purpose of the PCS is to enable secure and intelligent operational data exchange and consolidation within the port network.

(NAN)