Hadiza Bala Usman, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has solicited for greater support and co-operation from stakeholders in the Maritime sub-sector with a view to eradicating the present traffic gridlock at the access roads leading to the Ports in Western Ports and its industrial environment – Apapa and Tin Can Ports and indeed nationwide.
This she said would bring about greater efficiency and eventual generation of more revenue from the operation of the organisation. According to her, if we put the roads in good order ‘’we would have blocked the revenue leakages arising from these challenges’’
She observed that in as much as the present road congestion is caused partly by the state of the bad roads resulting from pot holes, other factors she stated include the poor Management of trucks as well as the absence of holding bays in the Terminals. This she said would have resulted in lesser trucks menace on the roads to our Ports which would ensure better customer service.
Furthermore, the Managing Director promised that Management would partner with all stakeholderssuch as the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and all traffic management agencies with a view to fashioning out a general overview to the Port access roads and the lay blue prints in order to answer the question ‘’facing us in terms of these.
Promising that a review of the concession agreement is imminent, occasioned by the need for impartial benefits arising from equity, Hadiza Bala Usman declared that Management would prioritize consideration for the export of agricultural produce at the Terminals while interfacing with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture with the view to ensuring operations at the Ports stimulate produce from the sector which in turn is good for export trade.
The Chief Executive added that it is critical for operators within the Nation’s Seaportsto comply with security and safety standards in their operations.
