NationalMirror Stakeholders await new port anti-corruption initiative FRANCIS EZEM June 7, 2013 Previous efforts by both the government and some private organisations at combating the scourge of corruption at Nigeria’s seaports have over the years yielded little or no results. It was probably in the light of this that most stakeholders hailed the new anti-graft initiative by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission. FRANCIS EZEM reports. The global anti-graft body, Transparency International recently rated Nigeria the second most corrupt country in the world after Bangladesh. Though the Federal Government has faulted this rating, many people believe that the high level of corruption constitutes the greatest hindrance to the economic and socio-political growth of this most populous black nation in the world. The maritime industry, touted as gateway to the Nigerian economy, like many other segments of the economy is not spared in this ravaging corruption. It was probably worried by this fact that the government took some steps towards addressing the problem, given the critical importance of the maritime industry to the economy. This is given that Nigeria depends on her crude oil exports for her much needed foreign exchange. Also, as an import-dependent nation, Nigeria imports more than 98 percent of both industrial and other domestic goods needed to feed her 160 million population. For instance, in year 2000 or thereabout, the Federal Ministry of Transport created the Port Industry Anti- Corruption Standing Committee with headquarters at the former Federal Ministry of Transport building on Marina, Lagos. This committee headed by Mr. Val Usifo was funded by the various government maritime agencies. Up to late last year when the committee was disbanded, it could not achieve much given that corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of the industry. One major handicap on the part of the Usifo-committee was that it was not set up by any act of Parliament and so, the only power available to it was that of persuasion. Little wonder many described the committee as a toothless bulldog, which can neither bark nor bite. When the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), mooted the idea of beaming its searchlight on Nigeria’s port industry to curtail further economic losses to the nation arising from the menace of corruption, many stakeholders could not hide their excitement.. The anti-graft body had earlier in the year hinted of plans to conduct Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) of the seaports in Nigeria. The CRA, according to it, is the process of examining the practices, systems and procedures of public and private bodies. The CRA has three –fold approach; which includes studying the procedures at the ports, mapping out corruption risks and finally design a comprehensive integrity plan to help the port address existing and future corruptionprone processes on its own. Chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, had, while speaking at a one –day inaugural meeting with stakeholders held in Lagos to sensitise and seek their cooperation, said the new initiative will cover all establishments in the port industry including both public and private ones. The project is being carried out in conjunction with Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), it national partners with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Stakeholders’ excitement stemmed from the fact that this current initiative is different from know anti-graft was in Nigeria, which involves hounding and prosecuting suspects, which has not actually yielded the desired results. The chairman noted that the focus of the anti-corruption agency is not to identify and possibly hound suspected corrupt persons rather, to prevent acts of corruption. The ICPC boss said: “The CRA is focused on studying organisational systems and operational environments with a view to addressing identified corruption risks therein. It is not a tool of criminal investigation; it is strictly a tool for prevention of the occurrence of corruption.” According to him, it is also a corruption -prevention tool, which works with the management of an organisation to identify vulnerable areas that are prone to corruption, proffer solutions and develop integrity plans that would strengthen accountability and transparency towards checking corruption and enhancing service delivery The chairman also said: “We are not here to apportion blame but to carry out a systematic study since it is much better and wiser to prevent the occurrence of corruption than to expend huge resources in investigations and prosecutions after the damage has been done and so, the commission places much stock on the CRA process”. The ICPC-boss noted that the CRA project at the nation’s seaports had become necessary owing to the critical role of the port industry in enhancing the growth and development of the nation as well as the security of the nation. “The port industry is an industrial lifeline and hub that performs multiple functions in local and foreign commerce and massive job creation, among others. The industry is also one of the highest revenue generating sections in the country that must be guarded jealously to avoid loss of resources and to ensure proper and efficient running of the facilities”, he had noted. Meanwhile, leader of the UNDP team on the CRA, Dr. Sam Egwu, had said in an interview that the agency is proud to be associated with the initiative, which is designed to curtail corruption in the port industry by preventing corrupt acts from occurring rather than waiting to prosecute offenders, which it believes could have been averted through the CRA. According to him, the agency’s support is in tandem with government’s aim of increasing Foreign Direct Investment. Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Malam Habib Abdullahi, while commenting on the initiative, noted that Nigeria’s port industry would be better after the anti-graft exercise, which aims at corruption prevention rather than punishing offenders. “The peculiarities of Nigeria’s seaports have made the crusade imperative so that the seaports would operate maximally and efficiently”, the NPA-boss insisted He also noted that under the post concession regime, NPA has sufficient time to supervise and ensure free flow of goods and services at the nation’s ports where cases of corrupt practices would be reduced to the barest minimum. Consultant to the ICPC on the initiative, Mr. Constatine Palarksty, while commenting on the scheme, said it was designed to suit Nigeria’s situation. “Though the methodology for the CRA was specific designed to suit the Nigerian context, it took account of international experience in fighting the menace of corruption, which is not limited to any geographical zone”, he had noted. He disclosed that as a pilot project, four seaports are targeted, which comprise those in Lagos, Onne, Calabar and Warri, which is expected to last for 45 days to complete the process. Curiously, nearly three months after the sensitisation, nothing seems to have been heard of the scheme, thus heightening anxiety on the part of the stakeholders. President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr. Eugene Nweke, who hailed the scheme, however expressed worry over the seeming silence of the ICPC and other promoters of the scheme. According to him, the Nigerian port system needs such scheme now more than ever before, arguing that Nigeria’s ports would compete favourably with its peers in Malaysia, Singapore and other developed countries if the system is rid of corruption. The earlier this is done the better for the nation’s port industry in particular and the economy in general.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:37:21 +0000
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