The Third 60-Day National Action Plan: Synopsis Of The Reform Initiatives

Unlike the previous NAPs, a total number of twenty-seven (27) ministries, departments and agencies of government (“MDAs”) have been detailed to drive the reform initiatives of the NAP 3.0. The relevant implementing MDAs are the Central Bank of Nigeria (“CBN”); Federal Ministry of Finance (“FMF”); Nigerian Shippers Council (“NSC”); Nigeria Customs Service (“NCS”); National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (“NAFDAC”); Nigeria Police Force; Trademarks, Patent and Designs Registry (FMITI Commercial Law Dept.) (“TPDR”); Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (“NCAA”); Nigeria Immigration Service (“NIS”); Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (“FAAN”); Nigeria Agriculture Quarantine Service (“NAQS”); Department of State Services (“DSS”); National Collateral Registry (“NCR”); Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (“NERC”); Eko Electricity Distribution Company (“Eko DisCo”); Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (“Ikeja DisCo”); Kano Electricity Distribution Company (“Kano DisCo”); Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (“Kaduna DisCo”); Federal Ministry of Environment (“FME”); Corporate Affairs Commission (“CAC”); Federal Inland Revenue Service (“FIRS”); Bureau of Public Procurement (“BPP”); Lagos State Judiciary; Kano State Judiciary; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (“NDLEA”); and the Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (“NEMA”).

Below is a synopsis of the nine (9) reform indicators being promoted by the NAP 3.0:

• Trading Across Borders

  For the enhancement of cross-border trading between Nigeria and other countries, the following reforms are to be implemented by the FMF, NCS, CBN, and the NSC with the overall impact of achieving reduction in cost and time for clearing of cargo at the Ports, as well as increased transparency and efficiency at the Ports:

  S/No	Reform Initiative	Expected Outcome
  1	Clarify and implement Import and Export Guidelines to drive efficiency at the Ports.	Clear implementation of Import and Export Guidelines, including categorisation of products to be palletised.
  2	Strengthen single joint cargo examination interface in all airports & seaports for import and export.	Simplified examination process at the Ports.
  3	Implement an electronic Nigerian Export Proceeds (NXP) form.	Faster distribution of NXP forms to Pre-shipment Inspection Agents & the NCS.
  4	Reduction in number of physical examination of cargo at Apapa Sea Port.	Reduction in number of physical examination of cargo at Apapa Sea Port.
  5	Pre-shipment Inspection Agents to digitise Requests for Information for all exports.	Elimination of physical visit to Pre-shipment Inspection Agents for inspection request.
  6	Enforce mandatory transmission of shipping line manifests to the NPA and the NCS within a minimum period of seven (7) days before arrival of vessels to Nigeria.	Improved risk assessment and optimised placement of containers for NCS examinations.

• Trading Within Nigeria

  For the promotion of trading within the country, agencies such as NAFDAC, Nigeria Police Force, and TPDR are expected to implement the following reforms; with the overall impact of embracing a new regime of transparent, effective and efficient process for product registration; seamless movement of goods and people across the country with reduced rent seeking opportunities; and create an efficient system for Trademark registration:

  S/No	Reform Initiative	Expected Outcome
  1	Clear all registration applications pending at NAFDAC as at December 2017.	Issuance of Certificates of Registration for all pending applications as at December 2017.
  2	Comply with ninety (90) day timeline to complete product registration by NAFDAC.	All product applications are expected to be completed within ninety (90) days as directed in the Presidential Executive Order 001 of 2017.
  3	Encourage reporting of illegal police roadblocks and institute consequence management.	Significant reduction in illegal road blocks around the country
  4	Publish backlog of all e-applications as at December 2017 in the Trademark Journal.	Publication of Trademark Journals for all pending e-applications as at December 2017.
  5	Issue all outstanding Certificates of Registration of Trademarks.	Issuance of Certificates of Registration for all unopposed published marks.