NPA’s e-payment platform to begin March 3

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Thursday a new automated payment platform, “PayDirect,” scheduled to take off on March 3, has been established for all port transactions.

The Managing Director of NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi, said this at a maritime stakeholders’ forum in Lagos.

“The introduction of e-payment is part of the strategic initiative designed to address the payment challenges faced by our stakeholders.

“The Authority acknowledges the problems our customers and other stakeholders have encountered in making payment.

“Complaints of delays in payment confirmation, leading to vessel delays and other harrowing experiences which are common place.

“We have, therefore, responded with a solution that guarantees multiple payment channels and reduces reconciliation challenges to the barest minimum.

“Some of the benefits that are going to be derived from this e-payment platform include instant payment confirmation, elimination of human interface in the payment procedures thereby curbing all other malpractice.

“It will also definitely improve vessel Turn-Around Time, reduce cost of doing business in our ports which impacts the nation’s economy.”

He said the e-payment was to drive a transformation that would identify and block all avenues of revenue leakages.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the NPA, Mr Olumide Oduntan, said the PayDirect system would enable NPA to confirm payments in less than 10 minutes.

Oduntan said that the new platform would enhance business transactions across the ports.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of Interswitch, Mr Mitchell Elegbe, assured all stakeholders that e-payment would be effective based on the need of the organisation.

Elegbe said the system would generate a unique identification number for everyone transacting business with NPA.

The Interswitch boss said that the system allowed for errors to be corrected, should there be payment cancellation or change in items to be paid for. (NAN)