Holding bay: NPA gives terminal operators, shipping companies one week ultimatum

Harboursandport.com: Lagos --Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, given erring terminal operators and shipping companies one week ultimatum to provide holding bay for their empty containers or face sanction.

I-r: Managing Dorector of NPA,
Hadiza Bala Usman, Executive
Director, Engineering &
Technical Services, Prof. Idris
Abubakar and the General Manager, Engineering, NPA, Engr. Mohammed Rufai at the Nigerian Ports Authority’s Stakeholders Forum held in Lagos.

The Authority frowned at organisations who connive to litter the port assess roads with empty containers as a result of the absence of holding bay.
Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, who disclosed this in Lagos at a stakeholders meeting, stressed that NPA would sanction erring organisations who refuse to obey rules guiding these directives.
She reiterated the commitment of NPA management at ensuring that outstanding payments and dues meant for the NPA coffers by Stakeholders are remitted as quickly as possible. This she stated would provide an enabling environment for efficient Port services in view of the vital role the Maritime sub sector plays.
A statement signed by Abdullahi Goji, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, noted that the Ms Usman stressrd the management has put in place a machinery at ensuring a level playing field for operators doing business in the sector using the ports; as it would ensure that rules guiding port operations are strictly adhered to the latter.
She further used the opportunity to inform the gathering that Management has set in motion a committee to liaise with representatives of terminal operators with the view to reviewing existing Concession agreement as plans are in the offing to actualize this within the shortest possible time.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Port Manager Lagos Ports Complex (LPC), Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim informed the gathering that the meeting was a platform for NPA and its Stakeholders to discuss the challenges facing operational efficiency. Efforts she said are in top gear to continually provide succor through palliatives on the roads leading to the Ports in consonance with the Ease of Doing Business before permanent solutions are made by relevant agencies.
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