Nigeria Port Authority And Impact Of Covid-19 Disruption On Port Operations
Paul Chukwudi Ezinna, Ph.D
Institute of Maritime Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
Dr. Ogunlela, Yemisi Ibiwunmi
National Open University of Nigeria, Jabi, Abuja.
Keywords: Nigeria, Port, Operation, Management, COVID-19
Abstract
COVID-19 took the global, regional and national economies by storm. Its rate of spread and impact is not comparable to any other pandemic ever experienced in this century. It posed existential threat to humanity and all her means of survival. Every attempt to curtail the spread and impact was, in its best, contingent. How nations and port institutions responded to the spread of COVID-19 presents a fascinating picture of global inter-dependence and interconnectivity of trade to the boom and doom of all together. It is against this backdrop that this study examined the response of Nigeria Port Authority to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the impact of the disruption on port operations. Observation and documentary research method was adopted for the study. Using the concept of situation analysis, the study discovered that the COVID-19 safety protocol marshaled out by Nigeria Port Authority is time-consuming and results in revenue loss as the cost burden is on the port users. This has generated conflicting legal interpretations as to who bore the cost between ship owners and charterers due to unexpected elongation of ship return time. The study, among others, recommended urgent implementation of National Single Window policy as the way forward.