The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has pledged that it would continue to support the activities of the
four pilotage districts within the authority to ensure their maximum performance.
The NPA Managing Director, Malam Habib Abdullahi who gave this assurance in Lagos reiterated that the Authority would also provide all the operational requirements of the pilotage districts within budgetary provisions.
Malam Habib who was speaking in his office at the beginning of a meeting with the leadership of the four pilotage districts commended the contributions of the members, consisting of mainly the finest nation’s master mariners, for their contributions to ensure enhanced performance of the various pilotage districts.
The Managing Director, also noted the concern of the members on navigational safety of the nation’s channels, and reassured them that the Authority would continue to place priority on the training and re-training of its pilots.
While stressing the roles of pilots as Harbor Masters in the operations of the Authority, Mallam Habib appealed to members of the pilotage boards to always make positive suggestions on the marine functions of the organization, adding that such suggestions would be gladly considered by the Management with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.
While appreciating the concern of the members on the safety of the pilotage districts, the Managing Director added that without the pilotage boards there will not be progress in the marine activities of the Authority.
Earlier, the leader of the group Capt. Solomon Abiodun Omoteso had told the Managing Director that the members were concerned about the safety of the pilotage districts of the nation’s territorial waters.
He appealed to the Management to strive to implement the communiqué of a recent retreat held by members of the pilotage districts at Uyo, Akwa Ibom in view of the major issues discussed at the forum.
