The collaborative efforts of the federal government with the private sector and a Civil Society group – Convention on Business Integrity (CBi) to curb corruption at the seaports has earned international praise and won the first ever “Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action Award” of the Switzerland-based Basel Institute on Governance.
Specifically, because of the joint efforts of the federal government agencies – including the Shippers Council, ICPC, DSS and the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, the Technical Unit on Governance & Anti-Corruption Reforms, TUGAR, alongside the CBi, through the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, (MACN); the cost of a ship berthing in Nigeria – often aggravated by unreceipted extortions – has now drastically reduced from $150,000 per vessel that arrives in the country to about $20,000.
This was disclosed when a delegation of the CBi paid a courtesy call on vice president Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.
According to Mr. Olusoji Apampa, who made the disclosure, 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.
According to a statement by the media aide to the vice president, Laolu Akande,the international award recognised the work of the Nigerian MACN, which created a real time-based Help Desk to resolve complaints and concerns of shipping companies as soon as they berth at the ports.
The Swiss-based international body recognised the initiative for the collective action where government, business and civil society have worked together for change. 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.
The CBi presented the international award to the vice president during the courtesy call on Monday and said to him, “this would not have been possible without your interventions.”
