Bolaji Sunmola Outlines Vision for Sustainable Port Infrastructure Development.

Bolaji Sunmola Outlines Vision for Sustainable Port Infrastructure Development.
… Seeks Collaboration with MAJAN, says Inadequate Funding Critical Challenge.

By Joe Njoku,
Global Freight News.

In a compelling address at the Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN) World Press Center Apapa, Mr Bolaji Sunmola, Chairman, Nigeria Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), highlighted the council’s strategic planning aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of Nigeria’s port operations, even as he sought collaboration with MAJAN for optimal performance and inclusiveness.

Mr Sunmola acknowledged the pivotal role of NPCC, a decision making body established before Nigeria’s independence in 1960, to oversee port related matters such as, safety and environmental impact.

However, he emphasised the council’s mission to foster stakeholders collaboration for sustainable development in the port industry.
Sunmola noted that the NPCC has significantly expanded its scope to meet the growing needs of Nigeria’s maritime industry. He outlined several key activities as;

Policy Advocacy: Engaging with government agencies and maritime stakeholders to develop policies that will enhance port governance and operations.
Infrastructure Development: Advocating for the upgrading of ports infrastructure with focus on digitisation, automation, and sustainability.
Capacity Building: Enhancing stakeholders capabilities through workshops, training, and seminars.
Environmental Stewardship: Ensuring ports operate with minimal environmental impact, aligning with international standards. Strategic Roadmap for the future. Mr Sunmola presented a strategic roadmap to reposition NPCC for greater effectiveness.

Organizational Realignment: Realigning the internal structure to ensure agility, transparency, and accountability, with specialised committee overseeing critical aspect of Port operations.
Digital Transformation: Implementing a “single window” system to streamline processes across the port ecosystem, significantly improving efficiency and transparency.
Expanding Stakeholders collaboration: Strengthening partnership both locally and internationally to share critical information and align regulatory standards.
Challenges and Vision: Addressing the challenges faced by the NPCC, Mr Sunmola stressed the importance of maintaining strong partnership and aligning regulatory standards to support the future growth and sustainability of Nigerian ports.
He therefore, reiterated the council’s commitment to creating a collaborative platform where industry leader, stakeholders, and local communities can drive innovation, dialogue, and economic expansion.

On Global Competitiveness: He noted that, “NPCC is focused on transforming Nigerian ports into competitive entities on the global stage, capable of attracting international trade and investment.”
However, he stated that funding it the council remains a critical challenge for NPCC. To address this, he said, ” We are exploring several options. Inadequate funding and limited financial resources restrict our ability to execute large scale initiatives. This underscores the need for more sustainable revenue streams,” he added.

He noted that the PCC plans to engage Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). “We aim to leverage the PPPs for major infrastructure projects, thus relieving the burden on government resources,” he said.
On consultancy and Advisory Services: He affirmed that, “By offering our expertise to other maritime organizations, We hope to generate additional revenue to fund our activities. We are engaging on Capacity Building programme. We are designing specialised training program for port operators and stakeholders to raise revenue while enhancing the skills of the workforce.”

On the challenges encountered by NPCC, Sunmola said that despite the limited resources of the council, it has made some successes, despite several ongoing challenges faced by the council.