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FG to institute Wreck Insurance Policy (WIP) soon- MD NPA

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports
Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman (3rd from left), addressing participants
at the quarterly meeting of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), to her left is the Executive Director, Finance and Administration (NPA),
Mohammed Bello-koko, (right) the Chairman Nigerian Ports Consultative Council
(NPCC), Otunba Kunle Folarin (2nd from left), and the General
Manager, Engineering (NPA), Engr. Rufai Muhammed (left) at the meeting in Lagos.

In its bid to
accelerate operational efficiency and navigational safety in the nation’s
seaports, the Federal Government will soon institute a Wreck Insurance Policy
(WIP) on all vessels calling to the Nigerian Ports.

The policy,
according to the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala
Usman, who drop the hint in Lagos on Thursday, will provide avenue for the port
management to evacuate abandoned vessels in all the nation’s territorial water.

Hadiza Bala
Usman who was speaking to major stakeholders of the nation’s maritime sector at
a one day quarterly summit of the Ports Consultative Council (PCC) also
disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has granted approval for a
Private Public Partnership (PPP) of 72 billion Naira for the ports access road
in Apapa and Tin can Island.

The Managing
Director, while commenting on the issue of trucks and access to the nation’s
seaports, said very soon only trucks that are housed in the proposed trailer
parks will be allowed entry into the port locations; adding that “The
Management is to deploy an electronic call-up system that allows access to the
ports only when they are needed.”

She told the
meeting that the Apapa Wharf Road reconstruction project has reached 85 per
cent completion, while assuring stakeholders that the road would be fully
completed in the next four to six weeks period.

Hadiza Bala
Usman has stressed that the efficient utilization of Inland Water Ways is key
to resolving the decongestion of the Ports access road.

She stated that
a company Connect-Rail, which is one of the private components engaged by the
Authority to provide barge evacuation is currently moving cargoes and several
tons of containers between Ikorodu to the Terminals through the water.

She said the Management
of the Nigerian Ports Authority is desirous on how it can use the water ways
farther even away from Ikorodu to other locations to really ease the congestion
out of Apapa and Tin can Island axis.

Speaking on the
importance of the Port Consultative Council meeting, the convener and chairman
of the Council, Otunba Kunle Folarin said that the meeting is strategic and an
avenue to examine issues relating to the operations of the Port Industry
especially as it concerns Port operators.

Otunba Folarin
said that at the end of the meeting, the Council always comes up with a Blue Print that would enhance efficient port operation and management.

Folarin
has earlier described the current Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports
Authority in three words: Decisive, Resourceful and Engaging.
Maintaining
that she addresses issues that affects port operation in its entirety, which is
germane for efficient port administration.

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