Chairman, Port Industry Anticorruption Standing Committee (PIACSC), Mr. Val Usifoh has disclosed reasons why the Committee, in collaboration with Ships & Ports Communication Company is holding the annual Maritime Stakeholders Forum.

Usifoh says the annual event is to help create synergy among all stakeholders in the port system so as to facilitate prompt clearance of goods and eliminate sharp and corrupt practices.

Usifoh’s explanation is coming on the heels of confirmation by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) that he would be available in person to chair the event.

The third in the series of the Annual Maritime Stakeholders Forum is scheduled to hold on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th October, 2008 at the Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos.

Usifoh further explained that the Forum aims to take the issue of port development beyond the realm of mere rhetoric and help educate and enlighten all concerned parties in the port system about the "how to" of achieving effectiveness in line with Government’s desire.

Usifoh stated that "although the port reform has created greater efficiency in service delivery, there are also recorded shortcomings and challenges as some of the pitfalls that had bedeviled the erstwhile port regime are still being experienced. There are still rooms for further development and improvement".

He stated that "in order to address the various contending issues and fine-tune the port reform process towards the realization of its laudable goals and objectives, the Port Industry Anticorruption Standing Committee and Ships & Ports Communication Company deemed it necessary to hold the forum, saying that "Nigerian Ports occupy a pivotal place in the nation’s economy which constitutes 60 per cent of the market in the West African sub region.

"The ports, as the main outlet and inlet for goods destined for the country and other land locked countries have enormous potential for growth and substantial contribution to national development," he reiterated.

Speakers at the event include the Honourable Minister of State (Water) Transportation – Prince John Okechukwu Emeka, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria – Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Comptroller General of Customs – Alhaji Hamman Bello Ahmed, Chairman Transparency in Nigeria, Managing Director of NPA – Mallam Abdul Salam Mohammed, Managing Director of Maersk Line – Mr. Tom Knudsen and Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa Ltd – Mr. Michael Lund Hansen.