MD Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) Ms Hadiza Bala Usman |
few years the organisation’s efforts have been to position the nation’s ports
to compete favourably within the sub-Saharan Africa, Gulf of Guinea and most
importantly, compete in the international community.
Managing Director of the Authority, Ms Hadiza
Usman said that this was why the management was recognized by the International
Organisation for Standardization (ISO 9001 and the OHSAS 18001 Certification
for positive steps in moving the sector forward.
She spoke on the occasion of the workshop on
‘Data & Investigative Journalism Training for Maritime Journalists’ organised
by Premium Times Services Limited on Wednesday, and said a lot of progress have
been made in the areas of safety, environmental protection, operational
efficiency and improved service delivery.
The NPA MD who was represented on the occasion
by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of NPA, Engr.
Jatto Adams, added that the authority is currently experiencing reduced
operational expenses, better management control, increased customer
satisfaction and improved customer service delivery.
According to her, this has made the ports
attractive before investors for national growth and development.
Usman identified the commissioning of the
Command and Control Communication and intelligence centre for NPA which would
serve as surveillance of all activities and as an information network centre
for security agencies in the ports as among the achievements of the authority.
Others include acquisition and commissioning of
four new tub boats to improve on operational efficiency, upgrade of 25 years
port development master plan and transformation of NPA’s manpower development
practices to improve the skill, knowledge and capacity of employees.
She also identified the reconstruction of the
port access road and commissioning of a simulator centre for the training of
pilots as among the achievements recorded by the organisation.
She added that the management was determined to
re-position the ports to continue to enjoy operational diligence as part of the
efforts to enthrone the ease of doing business in the ports.