Joyce Mmereole Okoli
Former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello, has called for the adoption of advanced technology in Nigeria’s maritime sector, asserting that it could exponentially increase revenue generation.
Bello made this statement during his opening remarks at the 10th anniversary celebration of Primetime Reporters held in Lagos on Wednesday. The event, themed “Leveraging Technology to Maximise the Potential of Nigeria’s Blue Economy,” gathered industry stakeholders to discuss the role of innovation in unlocking the sector’s potential.
Highlighting the benefits of deploying an advanced Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) system, Bello argued that the country’s revenue from port operations could have been four times higher if the system had been implemented earlier. He attributed the sector’s stagnation to the lack of technological infrastructure and stressed the critical role technology plays in achieving efficiency and transparency.
“Efficiency is what can make the Blue Economy work, and you cannot talk about efficiency without technology,” he said.
Bello further emphasized the necessity of a single-window system for seamless port operations, noting that such innovations are indispensable for a thriving, technology-driven maritime industry. He underscored the importance of eliminating corruption and streamlining operations to attract more investment into the sector.
“The Blue Economy will not do well without adequate deployment of technology,” he stated.
The event concluded with awards recognizing excellence in the maritime sector, presented to distinguished stakeholders, including Sunday Umoren, Secretary-General of Abuja MoU, chieftain of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners ( NARTO) Alhaji Inuwa Abdulahi Mohammed amongst other industry leaders.