The Acting Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko has affirmed the commitment and determination of management at improving the welfare of seafarers in the sub sector towards providing improved and efficient services to the growth of the country noting that their positive role and contribution to the growth of global trade cannot be ignored.
Koko made these remarks in his goodwill message at the 2021 World Maritime Day celebration with the theme, “Seafarers at the core of Shipping Future”, organized by the Federal Ministry of Transportation in Lagos.
Koko at the event saluted the doggedness of these gentlemen in providing succour in the movement and transfer of goods and services globally to various climes in the face of various challenges ranging from unfavourable weather conditions to attacks from pirates at sea.
The NPA acting Chief Operating Officer, at the event charged all present particularly the stakeholders to make available a friendly environment for the Seafarers in view of the critical role they play in the lives of the Nigerian nation noting the numerous unforeseen challenges they would be facing in the nearest future in the discharge of their duties at sea.
Bello Koko said the theme of this year’s celebration captured the essence of the professionalism showcased by the seafarers even in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic threats under which they strived for excellence.
Furthermore, the acting Managing Director of NPA noted that sea transportation is “world acclaimed as the most environmental friendly form of transportation.” He added that seafarers are major role players in sea transportation pointing out that “they are global treasures and assets in world maritime trade.”
Koko, quoting the seminal words of maritime novelist, Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Monsarrat stated that “Sailors, with their built-in sense of order, service and discipline should really be running the world.”
He challenged stakeholders to be more contributive in ensuring that global ports operations are eco-friendlier while effort should be in unison towards the actualization of world ports sustainability.
Recall that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was established in Geneva in 1948 but began its operations in 1958 with 174 member nations. Today, it is a specialized agency of the United Nations established to regulate and monitor the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.
The World Maritime Day celebration, an initiative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a day in the month of September annually set aside to celebrate the contributions of the global maritime sector to world economy.
This year the focus is on the seafarers under the theme “Seafarers at the Core of Shipping’s Future.”
Photo: Mohammed Bello-Koko, Acting Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
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