*Dismisses National Single Window as a Way Out of Delay in Cargo Clearance
A Lagos base logistics expert, Dr. Olusegun Musa has given reasons why the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has failed to deliver meaningful impact for Nigeria, nay Nigerians since it started years ago.
He averred that this will continue to be the case until there is what he called a “clearly defined, holistic and measurable policies” to drive its implementation for participants.
The maritime industry expert who is known for his vast knowledge of the logistics supply chain stated this recently at a roundtable discussion organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) at its International Press Centre (IPC), Apapa, Lagos.
While openly picking holes in the continental trade initiative, he expressed dismay at what he called “Nigeria’s ceremonial participation” over the years.
Musa who is also the Chief Consultant at Global Transport Policy pointed out that Nigeria’s genuine participation under AfCFTA should reflect in export volumes and measurable benchmarks rather than minimal shipments often presented in the media space as achievements.
His words: “If we were serious as a nation, under this scheme, we should be talking about exporting 200,000 to 300,000 containers by now — even up to a million. Instead, we are celebrating one or two containers and gathering media houses to showcase them. Is that participation? It is painful for a country of this size. A policy must be holistic. You should be able to key into it and predict what will happen. That is the essence of policy. What we are doing now is a waste of time and resources.”
In order to make it work, he proffered some measures including the initiation of policy frameworks that must not only be predictive but also structured in a way that allows stakeholders to key into them with certainty of outcomes.
According to him, policy gaps must not only be identified but also address headlong. Measurable benchmarks are required to reposition Nigeria under AfCFTA. The challenge was not the absence of declarations but the lack of institutional readiness and structured participation of Nigeria in the continental trade scheme.
Musa also compared Nigeria’s export performance with that of Europe and Asia, pointing out that serious trading economies focus on volume and competitiveness rather than symbolic shipments.
He expressed concern that without concrete benchmarks, coordinated institutional reforms and export-driven strategies, Nigeria may struggle to maximise opportunities under AfCFTA.
Musa who is also a chieftain of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) also dismissed the much awaited National Single Window (NSW) as a panacea to the prolong delay in the clearance of cargoes in the national seaports and borders over the years.
He maintained that there is no iota of truth in the assertions by many government officers that NSW is the way out of Nigeria’s high cargo dwell time (CDT) without first addressing systemic inefficiencies within government agencies that will be involved in it.
Musa’s words: “National Single Window? What change will it bring? Nothing will change if the agencies inside that system are not competent and ready. You cannot pull the cart before the horse. Digitisation alone cannot resolve deep-rooted operational weaknesses. Without performance standards and accountability mechanisms, the National Single Window could amount to just another jamboree. You must ensure the agents are ready before you start talking about digitisation. Otherwise, it will remain a single window in name while the inefficiency in the system continues behind it”.
He averred that his position on NSW was based on his technical knowledge and integrity apart from his over three decades experience and exposure in the maritime sector of the economy.
“If you are serious, I will tell you, you are serious. If you are not serious, I will tell you, you are not serious. I do not compromise my integrity. Nigeria must move beyond rhetoric to practical, measurable action”, he added.
The MARAN roundtable which is a regular feature of the umbrella association of journalists covering the maritime industry ended with a renewed call for actionable policies, institutional competence and measurable targets to ensure that the continental trade agreement translates into tangible economic gains for Nigeria nay Nigerians.
