NPA Boss Canvasses Better Synergy For Greater Port Efficiency

Harboursandport.Com: Lagos - Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has called on stakeholders in the port industry to create improve synergy towards greater operational efficiency and proffer ways of tackling challenges in the industry.

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman (left), the Chairman, Ports Consultative Council (PCC), Otunba kunle Folarin (Middle), the Vice Chairman, Major Henry Ajetunmobi (Rtd.) during the Quarterly Meeting of the Council in Lagos.

Speaking at the quarterly meeting of the Port Consultative Council (PCC) held in Lagos, the NPA boss noted that it is critical for government to achieve its desire and commitment of making the nation's ports the leading port in Africa.

A call has gone out to Stakeholders in the Port industry for an improved synergy towards greater operational efficiency and proffer ways of tackling challenges, adding that it is critical for government in the face of its desire and commitment of making our Ports the leading Port in Africa.

She commended the PCC for impacting the sector positively, even as she affirmed the NPA’s desire at tackling critical issues facing optimal operational capacity in areas that border on maritime safety and security, port access roads and multimodal transportation of cargo in view of the rich potentials at the nation's disposal.

Hadiza pointed out that “indeed analyzing the overriding objectives of the Federal Government, Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) depends largely on how swiftly we can correct the inherent deficits in our port infrastructure especially the Port Access Roads.”

A statement signed by General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of NPA, Adams A. Jato, noted that the NPA boss said that the management has embarked efforts at ameliorating the challenges of doing business within the port environment. These include palliatives at ending the gridlocks at Apapa and its axis, conversion of Lillypond Container Terminal into a holding bay for trucks, innovation with the automation of the Call-Up System for trucks and other incentives given for the transfer of cargo through barges from Ikorodu, Epe and Ijegun amongst others.

She further solicited for improved synergy by all stakeholders towards making the best use of the opportunities the sub sector has in stock towards the growth and development of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) most especially.

In his contribution, the Chairman Ports Consultative Council (PCC) Otunba Kunle Folarin appreciated and commended the MD NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, stressing that her vast accomplishments have indeed impacted positively in the sector. “We’ve continued to score a lot of mileage and we need the support of all agencies to move the council to the next level”.

Otunba Folarin explained that the council has been able to collaborate with stakeholders in the transport sector to bring required developmental progress to the industry calling for greater partnership.