International port officials and stakeholders on Wednesday in Abuja called for more investments in port infrastructure to facilitate hinterland connectivity and boost efficiency at ports.
The experts made the call in a communique signed by the former Secretary-General, Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Mr Michael Luguge, after the three-day First conference of International Africa Ports and Harbour (IAPH).
According to the communique, connectivity for economic growth, expansion and integration should be viewed from the perspective of domestic, sub-regional, continental and international trade domain.
“There is need to develop sustainable multi-modal transport linkages with emphasis on rail, inland waterways and pipeline infrastructure.
“To overcome the cumbersome and difficult experiences on intra-Africa trade route occasioned by heavy infrastructural deficit and unfriendly border post procedures, there is need for Ministerial/Inter-Government collaborations across sub-regional levels.
“African countries need to leverage on the support platforms provided by international bodies such as the IMO, WTO, UNCTAD, ACMA and others to build technical, financial and operational competence and capacity to raise standards and efficiency levels;
“To encourage funding, port service providers are encouraged to form viable consortiums to provide the required size for credit guarantees;
“Promotion of the use of Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and off-dock facilities as a measure of promoting hinterland connectivity.
“African ports are encouraged to develop the right capacity for investment opportunities in landlocked countries,” the communique said.
It also stressed the need for African ports to adopt best practices in terms of human capacity and expertise.
It stressed the need for development of capacity building in ICT and port community systems to improve efficiency and reduce corruption;
“IAPH will advantage of opportunities offered by infrastructural financial institutions such as AfDB, ADF and NTF to access funds required to address the menace of infrastructural deficits;
“Need to operate within the prescription of the FAL Convention to mitigate border post problems and associated delays and connectivity restrictions;
“There is the need for sustained promotion of the ideals/objectives of Corridor Management Institutions (CMIs) as promoted by ACMA;
“Need to consider measures aimed at sustainable environmental protection as the ports and transportation network develop in response to increasing demands of logistics, connectivity and regional integration.
“Need to build models that will domesticate environmental compliance processes with regard to the peculiarity of the African situation.
“Need for African ports to develop capacities for standards that are comparable to global best practice,” the communique added.
The document also stressed the need for introduction and strengthening of Private Public Participation (PPP) to improve dilapidated port infrastructure and efficiency in port operations.
It called for the creation of awareness and taking measures to mitigate the negative effects of marine pollution and environmental degradation that could harm the population.
It noted that motivating the ports to pursue agenda that would facilitate ISO compliance in line with current trends on standardisation and best practices.
The communique noted that countries needed to look into the possibilities of partnering to develop regional deep-sea ports;
The experts stressed the need for cooperation and synergy between littoral ports and dry ports in African region to improve hinterland connectivity;
They also explained the need to encourage women integration and capacity building in the maritime sector;
They cited the incentives and prioritising services rendered to dry ports to create voluminous traffic as seen in the case between Dakar Port Authority and Bamako Port in Mali;
The communique further emphasised strengthening of corporate social responsibilities between the ports and ports community through incentive packages that would make the communities ambassadors of ports.
It said that President Muhammadu Buhari encouraged participants to see their participation as a privilege and the need to serve their countries with optimum loyalty in ensuring they contribute their quota to trade facilitation and total integration of African economies.
