Home / Current Issue / Paper 1707839
Effect of Corruption on Service Delivery in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Port Harcourt Complex
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: Political Science (Public Administration)
Abstract
The study examines the effect of corruption on service delivery in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Port Harcourt complex. The principal-agent theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for the study. Data were collected through secondary sources such as maritime journals, port authority reports, industry publications, and international shipping documents, with analysis conducted using content analysis of these secondary sources. The study revealed that corruption has a significant impact on the effective provision of port services, including cargo handling, vessel operations, documentation processing, and infrastructure maintenance. The study finds that corruption manifests through three primary dimensions: administrative corruption, operational corruption, and financial corruption, leading to extended vessel turnaround times, increased operational costs, and compromised service quality. The consequences of corruption on port service delivery are measured through five key indicators: operational efficiency, service quality, cost-effectiveness, procedural transparency, and stakeholder satisfaction. The study demonstrates that corruption-related inefficiencies add 30-40% to standard operational costs while extending cargo dwell times to triple the international standards. The study recommends implementing automated systems, strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing infrastructure maintenance, establishing whistleblower mechanisms, and prioritizing capacity building for port personnel. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat corruption and enhance port services to improve maritime trade facilitation and economic development.
Keywords
Corruption, Port Service Delivery, Maritime Operations, Port Authority, Infrastructure Efficiency
References
[1] Adeniran, A., & Mohammed, K. (2023). Corruption and operational efficiency in Nigerian ports: A case study of Port Harcourt complex. Maritime Policy & Management, 45(3), 112-128.
[2] Bassey, O., & Ukpong, E. (2023). Infrastructure development challenges in Nigerian ports. Journal of Maritime Affairs, 18(2), 78-92.
[3] Davidson, R. (2022). Service quality assessment in West African ports. African Maritime Economics Review, 12(4), 201-215.
[4] Hassan, M., & Ibrahim, J. (2023). Maritime corruption and port performance metrics. International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 15(1), 45-60.
[5] International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH). (2023). Global port performance indicators report. Tokyo: IAPH Publications.
[6] Lawrence, P., & Adebayo, T. (2023). Transparency and accountability in port operations. Maritime Economics and Logistics, 25(2), 167-182.
[7] Maritime Anti-Corruption Network. (2023). Corruption in African ports: Annual assessment report. Copenhagen: MACN Publications.
[8] Mohammed, S., Peters, R., & Thompson, K. (2023). Port efficiency and corruption: A comparative analysis. Journal of Transport Economics, 58(3), 234-249.
[9] Okonkwo, B., & Nwachukwu, E. (2023). Revenue leakage in Nigerian ports: An empirical analysis. African Journal of Maritime Studies, 20(1), 15-30.
[10] Peters, A., & Bassey, O. (2023). Infrastructure maintenance and port performance. Maritime Economics Quarterly, 42(4), 301-315.
[11] Rahman, S., & Davidson, R. (2023). Bureaucratic corruption in West African ports. Port Management Review, 28(1), 89-104.
[12] Thompson, L., Williams, K., & Johnson, M. (2022). Effects of corruption on port service delivery. Maritime Transport Research, 14(2), 156-170.
[13] Ukpong, E., & Mohammed, K. (2023). Service delivery challenges in Nigerian ports. Journal of Maritime Research, 32(3), 267-282.
[14] Williams, K., & Olayinka, P. (2023). Port user satisfaction and corruption impacts. Maritime Policy & Management, 50(1), 78-93.
[15] World Bank Maritime Division. (2023). Port sector development report. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.
How to cite this paper
@article{1707839,
author = {Nkwonta, Obianuju Stella},
title = {Effect of Corruption on Service Delivery in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Port Harcourt Complex},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2025},
volume = {8},
number = {10},
pages = {704-719},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1707839.pdf},
abstract = {The study examines the effect of corruption on service delivery in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Port Harcourt complex. The principal-agent theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for the study. Data were collected through secondary sources such as maritime journals, port authority reports, industry publications, and international shipping documents, with analysis conducted using content analysis of these secondary sources. The study revealed that corruption has a significant impact on the effective provision of port services, including cargo handling, vessel operations, documentation processing, and infrastructure maintenance. The study finds that corruption manifests through three primary dimensions: administrative corruption, operational corruption, and financial corruption, leading to extended vessel turnaround times, increased operational costs, and compromised service quality. The consequences of corruption on port service delivery are measured through five key indicators: operational efficiency, service quality, cost-effectiveness, procedural transparency, and stakeholder satisfaction. The study demonstrates that corruption-related inefficiencies add 30-40% to standard operational costs while extending cargo dwell times to triple the international standards. The study recommends implementing automated systems, strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing infrastructure maintenance, establishing whistleblower mechanisms, and prioritizing capacity building for port personnel. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat corruption and enhance port services to improve maritime trade facilitation and economic development.},
keywords = {Corruption, Port Service Delivery, Maritime Operations, Port Authority, Infrastructure Efficiency},
month = {April},
}