Trailing Abdullahi’s foot note at NPA

  Blocking revenue leakages and clamour for efficiency through deployment of information technology were some of the notable achievements of the immediate past Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Habib Abdullahi.

 Specifically, Abdullahi while in office at NPA pursued vigorously the adoption of a new Revenue Invoicing Management System (RIMS) for the agency.

 The initiative, according to observers contributed to the ongoing automation processes aimed at sustaining growth and revenue base at NPA.

  Under the direct supervision of Abdullahi, NPA in February and September 2014, introduced Electronic Payment System and the Electronic Ship Entry Notice (E-Sen) respectively “as a first step towards full automation of our processes”.

  Unveiling the RIMS option, the immediate past NPA boss explained that the automation process will ensure business growth and high performance.

 According to Abdullahi, NPA’s service offering, will “improve partner relationship, create efficient payment method, maximize revenue and minimize loss associated with fraud and revenue leakage”.

  Indeed, for the first time, at the beginning of Abdullahi’s administration in 2012, NPA remitted N15 billion, the highest ever to the federation account.

 Before then, the highest was N2 billion. “From that time till now, we have remitted roughly above N60 billion”.

Besides, he also campaigned vigorously for stakeholders to key into the process of automation, adding that, NPA is presenting the Revenue Invoicing Management System and Customer Portal, “that  will lower operational cost and shorten the time for documentation.

He said: “These platforms fully integrate the electronic flow of information for business–to–customer and business–to–business streamsreal-time, with higher availability and flexible architecture.

“The platforms are also fully integrated with all our existing solutions such as Oracle Financials, Oracle Human Capital Management, NPA Paydirect via Interswitch and Electronic Ship Entry Notice (eSEN).

“The Customer Self Service Portal on the other handprovides a platform for our customers to initiate and conclude their business process with NPA and also communicate with us. The benefits accruing from this portal includes amongst others:

*Improved customer service delivery;

*Easy access to customer accounts status;

*View of all transactions and status in respect of bills;

*Electronic upload of manifest and

*E-invoice and e-receipt generation.

“Similarly, our Billing Application, some modules of which are already operational in all port locations, will soon proceed to the next stage.

“Currently, it covers payment processes in areas such as Lease Fees, Service Boats, Passenger boats, General Bills (Jetties and Trawlers), and Oil Terminal Dues (OTD)/Compulsory Pilotage Rates (CPR), among others.

  Abdullahi also contributed in no small measure to the Command, Control, Communication and Intelligence System (CCCIS) unveiled on Friday, 22 July, 2016 by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi

  The maritime security technology tracks and records movement of vessels within the nation’s territorial waters.

  The security infrastructure monitors vessels within the nation’s ports in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Onne.
Amaechi said: “It is pertinent to note that the development of this facility began with an approval in 2013 with the aim of providing Business Intelligence for the movement of vessels and Cargoes, as well as providing improved and secured communications within our waterways; for enhancement of efficiency within the nation’s seaports”.
The technology offers long and short range video surveillance monitoring systems, among other software applications which are in line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the Ships and Ports Security (ISPS) Code.
With the technology, Amaechi assured the International community that Nigeria as a member IMO was determined to uphold the thrust of the apex regulatory body.