The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), in conjunction with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), recently hosted a three-day stakeholder engagement in Lagos aimed specifically at reducing cargo dwell time within Nigerian ports. This initiative, termed 'Achieving a 7-Day Cargo Dwell Time', involved key industry players from the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee. The event aimed to streamline port processes and improve the overall ease of doing business in Nigeria, as emphasized in a statement from the NPA.

During the event, which took place at the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa, representatives conducted a 'shadowing' exercise. This involved observing live operations related to vessel berthing and cargo clearance at both the Tincan Island and Lagos Port complexes. This direct observation is part of a broader effort to identify the practical challenges in the current operations and comes as a proactive step towards improving efficiency at the ports.

Zahrah Mustapha, the Director-General of PEBEC, articulated the initiative's core mission: to shift from merely identifying challenges to implementing actionable solutions that have historically faced delays. This focus on practical reform and stakeholder engagement indicates the government's commitment to enhancing the business environment and addressing long-standing issues in the Nigerian ports system, which is crucial for facilitating trade and economic growth in the country.