The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mallam HabibAbdullahi has called on the management staff of the Authority to remain focused and rededicatethemselves towards attaining the mission and vision of the Organization as to be the leading port in Africa and to deliver efficient port service in a safe, secure and customer friendly environment.
Mallam Abdullahi made this call last weekend while speaking at the opening session of a retreat aimed at fashioning out a five year strategic development plan for Nigerian Ports Authority.
The Managing Director asserted that now is the time for every management staff of the Authority to initiate strategies for the overall development of the ports to meet International standards.
While reiterating the need for every all management staff to embrace new technology and innovation that can make the mission and vision a reality, he urged participants to draw up a road map for the future of the organisation.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr.OlumideOduntan told the gathering comprising of Executive Directors, General Managers, Assistant General Managers and Port Managers that as leaders, there are subordinates who look forward to them for inspiration and leadership, stressing that NPA has a direction that is outlined in its vision and mission, which all management staff must key into.
Mr.OlumideOduntan on his part said; ‘” Nothing happens by chance. Somebody or group of people dreamt about what is happening now in the Singapore and other major ports of the world some years ago”.
Participants stressed the need for every employee to imbibe the culture of efficiency and leaving no margin for error at work place irrespective of cadre in the Authority.
Other areas of management that participants suggested should be looked into are, reward and consequence system in the work environment, motivation, attitudinal change, succession plans, political interference, multiplicity of agencies at the ports, monitoring and evaluation of performance and so on.
Highlight of the opening session was the show of a video on the Port of Singapore which attracted comments from participants.
In a related development, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi has called for mutual economic cooperation between the Authority and the Port of Honkong, especially in area of training and manpower development.
Mallam Abdullahi made this call in Lagos recently while receiving the International President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Dr Dorothy Chan who paid a courtesy visit in his office.
He told the International President that Nigerian Ports Authority now operates a land lord model since 2006 after the port concessions to Private Operators adding that NPA was willing to avail its experiences to other ports who may wish to operate the model.
The Managing Director noted that the Authority has benefited from the programmes of CILT and other organisations like the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), International Association and Ports and Harbours (IAPH) etc.
While acknowledging the support of the International President to the Nigerian chapter, he assured Dr. Chan that the Authority would continue to give maximum support to the activities of CILT.
Earlier, Dr Chan who was from Hongkong and the first female Asian President of the 95 year old CILT said she was aware of the enormous contributions the Managing Director has made towards the growth of CILT in Nigeria and expressed gratitude to Mallam Habib Abdullahi for his kind gestures.
Dr Chan appealed to Managing Director to assist Nigeria CILT in respect of its bill in the National Assembly which she said aimed at according professional recognition to CILT in Nigeria.
She was accompanied on the visit by the International Secretary General Mr Keith Newton, President CILT in Nigeria, Major General U.T Usman (Rtd), Mr Francis Ehighese CILT National Executive Director in Nigeria, Aisha Ali Ibrahim, Chairperson, Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT) in Nigeria and other WILAT officials from Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda.
