The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has announced that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is gearing up to introduce comprehensive automation and cargo tracking systems. This initiative aims to facilitate smoother business operations across various ports within Nigeria.
Oyetola made this significant revelation during a recent meeting held in Abuja, where he welcomed Professor Gunter Pauli, a distinguished entrepreneur and sustainability expert, on his three-day visit to Nigeria
A statement by the Director, Press & Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, on Friday, noted that Pauli’s visit was facilitated by his partners in Nigeria, Premium Blue Economy Innovation and Investment.
The visit of Professor Gunter Pauli, arranged with the support of his Nigerian partners, Premium Blue Economy Innovation and Investment, underscores the government’s commitment to diversify the Nigerian economy away from its heavy reliance on the oil industry.
This diversification strategy led to the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, reflecting the government’s deliberate intent to explore and expand opportunities in the blue economy sector.
The impending implementation of automation and cargo tracking by the Nigerian Ports Authority is poised to bring about efficiency and transparency in port operations, ultimately promoting ease of doing business across the nation’s ports.
“Again, we are going to be talking of automation of ports to make them more efficient. I would like to tell you that in another two years, it will all change. We are bringing in automation and cargo tracking as we are working on that for implementation.”
“I believe in the Public Private Partnership arrangement. The government will create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and our concept in dealing with these, is purely in PPP, and I see quite a lot of opportunities there,
“We have sufficient control of our ocean in terms of security and there has been nothing like piracy in our ocean. So, the fear of investors about the safety of their investments is out of it now,” he argued.