The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko has received the commendation of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo for the strides being made by his management team especially in the area of revenue generation and remittance.
The Honourable Minister gave the commendation during his maiden visit to the Corporate Headquaters of the NPA as part of the activities marking the celebration of the World Maritime Day, 2022 with the theme “New Technologies for Greener Shipping.”
The Hon. Minister was accompanied by the Honourable Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, some Directors and other top officials of the 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 on the resources of the nation caused by the fall in the prices of crude oil.
The Hon. Minister also solicited for further co operation from other relevant stakeholders, while assuring the stakeholders and the maritime community of the readiness of 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.
In his words, “MD NPA, I must state that Council is happy with you and your team. I commend you and your Management team for your efforts in moving the nation forward especially the increase in revenue generation to government coffers. You have done well but I call on you to further block all other grey areas .”
Engr. Sambo further reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government in 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 Seaport would create an avenue for 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 Honourable Minister said, “We are ready to assist you in ensuring that the use of barges are 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 on, the Chief host at the nation’s Seaport, Bello Koko, whilst welcoming the Honourable Minister of Transportation and the top brass of the Ministry to the Corporate Headquarters of NPA informed them and other stakeholders of Management’s resolve at further positioning the nation’s Seaports in line with international best practices.
Mr. Koko appreciated the efforts of the Ministry in providing support to the authority at all times whilst soliciting for assistance in other grey areas of its operations.
He assured the Honourable 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 the sub Sahara Africa.
Koko stated that Management has began 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 Honourable Minister and his team were the NPA Board Chairman, Engineer Akin Rikkets, Executive Directors of the Authority as well as the top Management personnel of the NPA.
Photo: The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo (left) receiving a souvenir from the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA , Mr. Bello Koko during a visit by the Honourable Minister to the NPA headquarters in Lagos.
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