We took a tour of the deep seaport’s power plant facility, which is about the near-end component of the project
It was an unusually momentous period at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as Mohammed Bello Koko recently clocked 100 days in office following his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as the substantive Chief Maritime Officer of the nation’s sea ports.
The much-anticipated pronouncement of the Kebbi-born accomplished Banker as the MD of NPA was greeted with loud ovation by the entire maritime family comprising the NPA workforce, stakeholders, and port users. Koko, who served as the acting Managing Director for eight months before his confirmation on 15th February, 2022 has already ticked the 100 days box as MD in grand style.
Since 1933 when former US president Franklin D. Roosevelt coined “The First 100 Days in Office” in a radio address to his countrymen, the statement has since gained global prominence and leaders across socio-political and economic sectors observe their first hundred days in office as a period to take stock of their performance.
The First 100 Days in Office for most business and political leaders is usually a case of different strokes for different folks. Some immediately hit the ground running in what typifies the assertion that they came prepared, while some would be struggling to settle down and others would choose to take their time. The first instance is the case for Koko who, as MD NPA, has immediately settled down to the job, helped by the fact that he is not a novice to the inner workings of NPA as he had served as the Executive Director Finance and Administration and then as the acting MD of the organization for eight months before his confirmation on 15th February, 2022.
But on the whole, excuses may not suffice as examiners mark scripts only on the basis of evidenced performances. This is why the 100 days report of the Koko-led Management compiled by Valuechain cannot be either overemphasized or underemphasized. An objective assessment of Koko’s achievements so far shows that there is a lot to be positive and hopeful bearing in mind the numerous challenges.
Revolutionary strides in the Lekki Deep Sea Port
The Lekki Deep Sea Port which is being built over 90 hectares of land at the centre of the Lagos Free Trade Zone, is the first deepsea port to be built in Nigeria. The multi-purpose deepsea port which will become one of the most modern ports in West Africa will serve as an important gateway for containerised, dry and liquid bulk cargo vessels.
Construction of the $1.5bn deepsea port began in December 2017 and the project was expected to be completed in 2020. The NPA under the watch of Koko has reiterated to stakeholders of its desire for the Lekki Deep Sea Port to commence operations in September 2022.
The Koko-led Management at the NPA in partnership with the China Harbor company, the Lagos State Government and the Tolaram group would be expected to see to the take-off of the Deep Sea Port in September, 2022.
Speaking on how soon the project will be coming on stream, the MD said the target of September is still feasible. “So, the first test-run will be in September and commercial vessels will be used to test-run. We are already constructing the 80 Bullard pull Tug boats that would be necessary for use in that location and other marine vessels that are needed there.”
The project, when operational, is expected to generate over $201 billion in revenues (taxes, royalties and duties) to the Federal and State authorities. The facility is expected to also generate about 170,000 jobs. It is also expected to serve as a big boost to Nigeria in its quest to take advantage of the implementation of the African Conventional Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA)”.
With this Port, Nigeria will become a transshipment hub and the revenue we are currently losing to our neighboring countries will come here.”
Indeed Mr. Koko would be applauded for his disposition towards the creation of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in view of the need to further expanding the scope of maritime in Nigeria and Africa.
The NPA being the Technical Operators of the country’s maritime sector is willing to support in the procurement of the tug boats, pilot cutters and a control tower amongst others. The $1.5 billion project is expected to bring revenue by way of taxes and royalties as well as provide job opportunities for over 150,000 people.
Tackling port congestion
Management under Koko has received appreciable commendation at further eradicating traffic gridlock within the Apapa corridors housing the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port.
Before now, going to Apapa for whatsoever reason was a nightmare. The one’s peaceful environment became a place for all sorts of dehumanizing activities coupled with various forms of social vices such as robbery etc. However, with the introduction of the ETO application through the partnership with TTP Limited there has been a sigh of relief by truck owners and residents.
Vehicles not verified from the truck parks are not allowed into the port. This has led to a reduction in the cost of doing businesses at the port, a reduction in time wasting, improved investment, revenue and free flow of traffic within the port corridors. The NPA Management under Koko in its desire to seeing a more efficient port operation and service delivery, recently procured 26 motor bikes to monitor and enforce the laws against those found flouting traffic rules governing the port operations. The introduction of a mobile court in conjunction with the Lagos State Government has further alleviated the suffering and logistic nightmare of accessing the port, thereby improving investment and revenue earning to the Ports Authority and the nation at large.
Control, and Communication System.
Port Automation
In view of the increase in trade facilitation within the Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria needed to meet up with the swift operation at the terminals, hence the need for Port automation. Port automation is the process where the human labour is eradicated and replaced by technology-driven device. Automation involves the scientific movement and maneuvering of items such as cranes and cargo containers. It involves the use of an intelligent mechanism to effectively enhance safety and speed with a view to reducing traffic.
Before now, past Management at the NPA being the Technical Regulator of the Port axis, did not embrace the concept of Port automation. It witnessed series of challenges ranging from the issue of resources, financing and slow implementation. With the coming of Bello Koko, things have begun to take a new shape and there seems to be a new hope.
According to the MD, the concept is today an acceptable policy globally by port operators in view of the constant dynamics in the business. As part of his policy thrust, he is determined to fully implementing the policy of automation as soon as possible and he has started doing that through the integration of areas such as Oracle Business Revenue Invoice Management System (RIMS) Electronic Document Management System Electronic Slip Entry Notice (ESEN), Customs Integration Platform and Port Control Management etc.
The process for the automation of the Harbour Department has already started under the current leadership. The Harbour Department, before now, was not automated unlike the Finance and HR Departments. Also, the MD is seriously focusing on achieving the mandate set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for all ports to deploy IT and software by 2025. The Bello Koko management is determined to achieve this in 2023 which has been commended by stakeholders and port operators.
Rehabilitation of decaying ports
Koko is quite aware of the enormous task of the rehabilitation of port infrastructure which had decayed overtime. In the light of this, it has, in collaboration with terminal operators, commenced the rehabilitation of port infrastructure such as the quay wall, dredging of the channels and drafts to meeting the berthing of bigger vessels on our waters.
In today’s business environment, 13.5 meters draft is no longer attractive nor can it accommodate bigger vessels as against the current trend of 16.5 which is internationally approved globally.
This step by Koko is expected to attract investments, empower Nigeria to compete favourably within the Sub-Saharan continent and increase revenue amongst others.
Drive for non-oil export
Within his first 100 Days in Office Mr. Koko-led Management gave strong support to the revenue and investment drive of this administration in the area of logistics towards a successful actualization of the government’s Non-Oil Export Policy. The federal government before now, has been deeply concerned about how to diversify the economy from dependence and over-reliance on crude oil export.
During a visit to one of the terminals at Ikorodu, Koko assured investors and exporters that the NPA Management was willing to provide all necessary technical support in the area of logistics for private individuals. It is expected that this effort would encourage local investors and emplace greater efficiency of export products which would eventually lead to increased revenue generation for the government.
Mr. Koko recently reiterated that the Federal Executive Council has approved a ban on foreigners and their representatives from purchasing agricultural produce at the farm gate. This confirms the foresightedness of having in place their terminal in readiness for increased demand for processed export.
Institutional Collaboration
The Koko-led Management during its First 100 Days in Office, partnered with the World Bank in the area of technical assistance on repositioning the port industry in line with global best practices.
Before now, the Authority enjoyed limited necessary assistance and collaboration in port reforms, instead, they had waited to see a positive change of attitude from the maritime players towards repositioning the industry for greater efficiency and service delivery.
With this World Bank’s collaboration in place, the NPA under Koko is definitely enjoying the necessary assistance which would boost the organization’s operations.
Anti-Corruption War
The Nigerian posts today, under the leadership of Mohammed Bello Koko, has incorporated a zero-tolerance policy to all acts of corruption and financial leakages within its operations with a view to further optimizing improved revenue generation and efficient port service.
Be that as it may, in its determination at engaging this misdemeanor headlong, NPA Management is collaborating with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) charged with the responsibility of detecting and prosecuting offenders.
At the inauguration of the anti-corruption and transparency unit of the Authority recently, Koko reaffirmed that the NPA, as one of the most important agencies in the maritime sector, will continue to promote transparency, accountability and fight other forms of social vices in the ports corridors.
Valuechain’s findings from the operations of the organization revealed that vices in port corridors have been largely check-mated and this has had a positive impact on the authority’s purse and an improved remittance to the consolidated revenue fund.
Aggressive revenue collection, increased remittance
There seems to be a new order at the NPA in the area of remittance into the federation’s coffers. Before now, the NPA has not declared so much revenues due to various encumbrances affecting the port operations. However, since he assumed office as MD, there have been various development and operational strategies which have been attracting investments and taking a substantial share of the market within Sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking at a recent media chat, the MD stated that the management under his watch, since assumption of office, has remitted N45bn to Consolidated Revenue Fund, attributing the feat to improvement in collection mechanisms and aggressiveness in debt recovery.
“And out of this 45billion, about N26bilion happens to be in the year 2022. We also ensured we improved debt recovery. We had realised that there was need for us to ensure that we are paid properly and on time for every service that we offered and so, we improved our debt recovery efforts and that actually helped in ensuring that we transferred more to the consolidated revenue fund.”
Manpower development
Mr. Koko has regularly stated that the operations under his watch would continue to focus and develop strategies towards the training and retraining of the workforce to meet challenges in the maritime sector.
According to him, the NPA is seeking collaborative opportunities with international bodies to improve the capacities of the NPA workforce. Towards the realization of this dream, Management under the leadership of Koko recently commissioned the NPA Training Institute at dockyard to achieve this desire. At the launch of the institute, the MD stated that the state-of-the-art facility would accommodate approximately 380 trainees. It is built in a tastefully serene environment that can be compared to the best in the world.
The facility would have as its resource persons, retirees from the organization to train the workforce. This facility would allow for a reduction in cost of training officers aboard.
In the final analysis, The Koko-led management of the NPA should be commended for its numerous giant strides since he was made the substantive Managing Director of the NPA. With these noble ideas, the narrative of the organization has changed positively to being positioned to meeting global best practices.
First 100 Days might seem somewhat insignificantly a yardstick to measure the prospects of any administrator under the current global realities, it also cannot be glossed over as a gathering storm that could ultimately be used to score someone at the end of their term if they sustain the current pace.