… Sensitizes stakeholders on the imperatives of environmental safety and security
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman has expressed her profound appreciation to the media for partnering the NPA Management in achieving its set objectives as well as in conveying some of its programmes effectively to the public.
Usman who also said that she had learnt so much within the little time she had spent in the port industry charged the media to always cross check their facts before publishing to reduce contrary stories.
Speaking while receiving a platinum award bestowed on her by Portgist on TV as the Trail Blazer of the Maritime Industry in her office in Lagos, Usman said she believed in working hard first while awards should come after service stressing that she operated open door policy at all times.
According to her, “Collectively we are stronger, this industry is ours and Nigeria is our country therefore the success of the industry is for the betterment of all of us”.
Usman admonished maritime journalists to embrace an investigative approach in their profession stating that misinformation would not pay premium to the sector.
Thus, she called on the journalists to collaborate with the NPA Management in a holistic effort to ensure the sector was positioned as a major player in the sub-region and beyond.
In his contribution, Otunba Kunle Folarin, Chairman Port Consultative Council (PCC) eulogized the MD referring to her as one who had developed into a professional of repute deserving of accolades.
The PCC Chairman urged the MD to continue her sacrifice and due-diligence as stakeholders were only but appreciative of her efforts.
The Executive Director Marine and Operations, Dr. Sekonte Davies at the event said that it was gratifying sharing in the glory of the Managing Director assuring that she had indeed brought enduring changes to the port industry.
Earlier, the Executive Producer/Editor-in-Chief of Portgist on TV, Dr. Kayode Farinto disclosed that the Managing Director of NPA was a trail blazer who deserved to be celebrated especially when her rich pedigree was put into consideration, affirming the saying “whatever a man can do, a woman can do better”.
Dr. Farinto added that what the MD achieved would better be appreciated considering the geographical zone she came from concluding that it was high time Nigerians respected and celebrated their women.
At the ceremony were a cross section of NPA’s General Managers, other officials from Portgist and the Media.
In another development, the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA) has assured stakeholders in the maritime sub- sector of its readiness to prioritize matters concerning operational, safety and security with a view to providing necessary support in this regards across the nation’s seaports in order to ensure efficient port services in line with international best practices.
Flagging off a fire drill which took place at the organization’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman stated that the efforts were aimed at sensitizing officers of the organization, business concerns within and around the head office on the dictates and imperative of upholding the ethics of emergency response in the case of fire disaster and other safety and security concerns.
Furthermore, she eulogized the contributions of the organization’s Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Division at its readiness towards securing lives.
In her words, “We have deployed two fire trucks and they have shown their knowledge at addressing fire. We are happy with their abilities, the hydraulic platforms are functional, and we have the capability at addressing fire at the NPA and beyond”.
Earlier, the General Manager Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) of NPA, Yusuf Ahmed stated that the sensitization drill being the first of its kind was aimed at assessing the operational efficiency and readiness of her personnel during emergency situations.
According to him, “there is a procedure of evacuating the workforce to Muster Points in case of fire out- break that is what we have tried to demonstrate and uphold”. Ahmed added that the event is planned to be carried out quarterly.
Present during the event were the top echelon of the organization as well as its workforce.
Photo:
The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman (left) receiving a platinum award as the ‘Trailblazer of the Maritime Industry’ from the publisher, Ports Entertainment and Business Gist Magazine and the Executive Producer of Portgist Event on TV, Dr. Kayode Farinto at the NPA Corporate Headquarters in Marina.
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