Mr. Olusoji Apampa the Co-founder of NPA’s Civil Society partner, the Convention on Business Integrity, CBI has revealed that Ukraine, Egypt and India are considering adopting Nigerian model of eliminating systemic corruption in ports operation.
This was as he acknowledged the success being made in the sector via synergistic partnership in achieving transparency by the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Apampa made the disclosure on Monday when he presented “Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action Award” of Switzerland-based Basel Institute to the Nigerian government in recognition of the success being made in the sector.
The international award was presented to Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo at the villa.
According to Mr. Apampa, the success recorded is now attracting international reviews as countries such as Egypt, Ukraine and India are planning to adopt the “Nigerian miracle” model to produce similar gains in their own ports’ operations.
Recall that Managing Director/ CEO Nigerian Ports Authority Mohammed Bello Koko had in March 2022 when he received members of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, MACN, led by Soji Apampa, at the Authority’s head-office in Marina, Lagos reiterated the Authority’s commitment to complying fully with the Standard Operating Procedures, SOPs, as stipulated in the Nigerian Port Process Manual, NPPM, which NPA funded, to enhance operational excellence and service delivery at all Nigerian seaports and terminals.
According to Apampa, “the synergy among the agencies and CBi, through the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, MACN, has significantly reduced the cost of a ship berthing in Nigeria – often aggravated by unreceipted extortions – from 150,000 dollars per vessel that arrives in the country to about 20,000 dollars.
“This was made possible by the establishment and success recorded by the first ever, real-time Anti-Corruption Help Desk in Nigerian Ports, which instantly reports and resolves corruption-related issues.”
Receiving the news of the development, Koko commended the CBi and MACN.
He said: “Our commitment at ensuring that transparency governs our entire port operations value chain remains unwavering, and we will continue to enter into and nurture synergies in this regard”.
