Harboursandport.com: Lagos --- Managing
Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala Usman, has charged
members of the newly inaugurated pilotage boards to see their appointments as a
“call to serve the nation in the national interest”.
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| Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman |
She
therefore implored the appointees to use their high professional skills and
knowledge to improve pilotage services in the nation’s seaports within the
areas of their jurisdictions.
The
Pilotage Boards inaugurated were those of Lagos, Warri, Bonny / Port Harcourt
and Calabar Port pilotage districts, as provided for by the Port Act, with a
life span of three years.
While
appreciating the appointees for accepting to serve on the boards, the Managing
Director reiterated that their functions and responsibilities, as provided for
in the Port Act, are crucial to the overall operation of the nation’s seaports
in ensuring navigational safety and protection of the marine environment.
Speaking
through the Executive Director, Marine and Operations of the Authority, Dr.
Sokonte Davies, after the inauguration of the board by the Honourable Minister
of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Hadiza asserted that the Authority
would provide all the necessary support and enabling environment members of the
boards will require to succeed in their assignments.
A
statement signed by Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications of NPA,
Isah Suwaid, noted that she assured members of the boards that their
recommendations and submissions shall always guide the Management in ensuring
navigational safety of the nation’s water channels in accordance with
international best practice.
Earlier
while inaugurating the board, the Minister of Transportation, represented by
the Director of Maritime Services, Alhaji Sani Galadanchi had said the members
of the boards were carefully selected on the basis of their professional
qualifications and requisite experience in the nation’s maritime industry,
adding that much was expected from them.
The
Minister who admitted that the task before the members of the board is not an
easy one, expressed optimism. “But we trust that you will bring to bare your
wealth of experience and expertise to discharge your duties as provided under
the Port Act”, he added.
Recalling
that the tenure of the last Pilotage Board elapsed in 2016, the Minister
reasoned that it could be imagined that some of its responsibilities may have
suffered lack of attention, expressing the hope that with their inauguration,
quick steps will be taken to address all such matters.
The
Minister reminded the Board members of their functions to include the
establishment of entry requirement for obtaining certificate or license in
order to perform pilotage services, enforcement of the maintenance of developed
standards and specification.
Responding on behalf of other members of the pilotage
boards, Capt. Adewale Ishola pledged the determination of Boards to live up to
the expectations of the Authority in the discharge of their functions in
accordance with the provisions of the Port Act.
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