The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday said that Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and the Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) would advance government’s efforts in ensuring that Nigeria attained the hub port status in West and Central Africa.
Osinbajo said this in Abuja at the launch of the SOPs and the PSSP.
He said that SOP’s and PSSP would not only streamline processes of port operations, adding that they would also serve as important instruments in driving economic growth and development of Nigeria.
“The ports must play the role of making it easier to trade across borders as well as drive Nigerian trade policy better.
“Port procedures have direct impact on business environment for Nigeria and foreign businesses to enhance economic development,’’ Osinbajo said.
He said that enhanced port administration would significantly make it easier for Nigerian businessmen to import components needed for industrialisation.
The vice president said that the key component of this administration – Change Agenda – was a development in diversifying to non-oil sector economy to achieve the necessary targets.
Osinbajo said that the present administration would ensure that government “is a business partner and not a competitor to business’’.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari recently approved the formation of a Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, charged with the duty of reforming Nigerian business climate.
Osinbajo said that productivity and competitiveness could be accomplished when government policies were transparent, predictable and friendly to business.
He said that the present administration remained committed to achieving a legacy and shared responsibility in port developments.
The vice president said that a nation could position itself as a major exporter that could earn significant resources by just being efficient.
Osinbajo commended the efforts of the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, for ensuring the standard procedures by
enhancing the ports portal.
He said that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, being the Port Economic Regulator, had worked effectively in making sure that SOP was achievable in the Nigerian ports environment.
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