Dr Azeez Mustapha, Managing Director of AZ Logistics, has called on the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and other regulatory agencies in the maritime sector to deepen their engagement with industry stakeholders to ensure more effective policy development and implementation.
Speaking at the monthly roundtable forum of the Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) in Lagos, Dr Mustapha criticised the trend of government agencies formulating policies in isolation without adequate consultation with experienced operators and frontline stakeholders.
“The regulator must engage with the real players and stakeholders in the maritime sector—those who understand the problems and can discuss viable solutions,” he said. “Unfortunately, regulators tend to consult only among themselves. I once told the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, that many suggestions presented to the government are often ignored. That must change.”
He stressed that stakeholder inclusion is essential to crafting realistic and implementable policies that align with industry realities. “Policy should be informed by the input of genuine industry players,” he added.
Reflecting on the evolution of port operations, Dr Mustapha recalled the state of the industry before the 2006 port concession reforms, noting that operations were bogged down by excessive paperwork and inefficiencies. While digital innovations have improved logistics, he said bureaucratic hurdles still exist due to persistent interference by government agencies.
“Before the ports were concessioned, there was too much paperwork. Today, technology has improved operations, but bottlenecks created by various agencies still delay the process,” he noted.
He expressed frustration at the lack of responsiveness from government institutions despite the private sector’s willingness to contribute solutions. “We keep offering ideas, but someone somewhere ignores them, and then we end up right back where we started. This reflects a broader government failure, and it’s the entire sector that suffers,” he said.
Dr Mustapha also highlighted how inefficiencies in government oversight allow shipping lines to exploit the system for profit, further frustrating industry players.
Citing a successful international shipment managed by AZ Logistics for some multi international companies, he described a consignment that was cleared before its flight even landed in Singapore and delivered immediately upon arrival. “They were shocked. They expected it to take four days, but we showed proof of delivery within hours. That’s the level of efficiency we aim for,” he said.
He lamented that such efficiency is difficult to replicate in Nigeria due to multiple agency interventions and fee extractions that slow down operations. “Every agency wants to take money on each container. It leads to avoidable delays and inflated logistics costs,” he said.
Addressing the challenge of insecurity, especially in volatile regions, Dr Mustapha explained how AZ Logistics adapts through strategic partnerships. “In places like South Sudan and northern Nigeria, we work with trusted partners and international insurance firms to ensure safe and efficient delivery. As long as clients can cover the costs, we will deliver,” he assured.
He concluded by reiterating that collaboration, efficiency, and transparency are critical for the maritime industry to thrive, especially in a globalised logistics environment.