The managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko has received the commendation of the Minister of Transportation Mu’azu Jaji Sambo for the strides being made by his management team, especially in the area of revenue generation and remittance.
The Minister gave the commendation during his maiden visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the NPA as part of the activities marking the celebration of World Maritime Day, 2022, with the theme’ New Technologies for Greener Shipping
The Minister was accompanied by the Minister of State for Transportation Ademola Adegoroye, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation Magdalene Ajani, some Directors, and other top officials of the Ministry.
The nation’s Transportation Chief stated that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was quite pleased with the reforms being implemented by the NPA Management in moving the nation forward in view of positive developments the sub-sector has brought to the nation’s economy in line with international best practices.
The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration he enthused was quite elated with Mohammed Bello Koko and his Management team for their efforts at resuscitating and boosting the economy, especially the Gross Domestic Product ( GDP) which has cushioned the effects of the resources of the Nation caused by the fall in the prices of crude oil.
The Minister also solicited further cooperation from other relevant Stakeholders, while assuring the Stakeholders and the Maritime Community of the readiness of the Government to provide the enabling environment and support to the Management of the NPA under the stewardship of Bello Koko towards making the port environment more efficient and customer friendly in order to attract investments and remain relevant within the comity of Maritime nations.
Sambo further reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to ensuring that the Lekki Deep Seaport project commences operations as scheduled before the end of 2022.
According to him, the Lekki Deep Seaport and the recently approved Badagry Deep Sea Port would create avenue jobs for Nigerians, encourage trade and investment, and further boost Revenue generation to the country.
In addition, he called on the MD NPA to ensure the full implementation of Barge operations at the Ports to further facilitate the movement of goods from the seaports. He said this would also be beneficial to the nation in the area of more jobs for those in the business of fabrication as well as reduce the cost of doing business by investors.
The Minister said” We are ready to assist you in ensuring that the use of Barges is fully implemented in your operations. We need to work the talk whilst we wait for the conclusion of other means of evacuation of boxes from the Ports to cushion the effect of logistics through land transportation”
Earlier, Bello Koko informed them and other Stakeholders of Management’s resolve the further position the nation’s Sea Ports in line with International best practices.
Koko appreciated the efforts of the Ministry in providing support to the Authority at all times, whilst soliciting assistance in other grey areas of its operations.
He assured the Minister and his team that the present Management under his watch would ensure that operations of its services are further improved upon in view of the constant global competitiveness towards attaining a hub status within sub-Sahara Africa.
Koko stated that Management has begun the process of acquiring additional tug boats and Pilot Cutters for its officials to facilitate the operations. This he said would further reduce Vessel Waiting Time and attract investment at the Ports.
Also present to receive the Minister and his team was the NPA Board Chairman Akin Rikkets, the Executive Directors of the Authority as well as the top Management personnel of the NPA.
