NPA seeks collaboration with Navy, NIMASA over insecurity

Following the insecurity plaguing the nation’s sea ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA has sought the collaboration of the Nigeria Navy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and other relevant agencies to tackle the menace to its barest minimum.

Speaking at the Onne Ports Complex, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, during a stakeholders’ meeting, the Managing Director of the authority, Hadiza Bala Usman,

noted that NIMASA would purchase more vessels very soon to tackle the security menace and also urged the Nigeria Navy do more to help NPA out the threat considering the benefits of the Authority to the Navy and the general public.

Usman, who was represented by the Executive Director Marine Operations, Chief Sokonte Davies, disclosed that she initiated the forum because of belief in dialogue informing further that it had become a policy in the authority

to carry out such an interactive session in all the nation’s ports on quarterly basis, with a view to identifying problems of stakeholders and at the same time proffer solutions.

“When clients are happy, businesses boom and there are more returns. We will ensure that things are done properly. We should also do our best to eliminate irrelevant bottle necks in our transactions. We will review payments for businesses not concluded,” she assured.

In his welcome address, the Ports Manager, Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar, noted that the NPA was acting in line with the presidential directive to ease business transactions at the port and observed that the NPA has resolve to ensure transparency in order to eradicate sharp practices inimical to efficiency as well as enhance bussiness in the ports industry.

Abubakar stated that the Onne Ports had adopted some updates in respect of Executive Order to ease business transactions in the country like creation of export desk to facilitate movement of export cargoes to terminals, intensify security around entry/exit points, as well as pedestrian and vehicular access into the Ports.

The Ports Manager said that the NPA had created opportunities for meetings with relevant stakeholders for update, creation of Port Entry Gate and inauguration of cargo dual time Task Force to monitor cargo clearance processing.

Speaking at the occasion too, the chairman of the Clearing Agents, Mr. Kelly Kingsley Offor, expressed optimism that the meeting with the NPA management would lay to rest most of their challenges, particularly security for the ports.

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt