Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, has received commendations from the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, over a remarkable increase in the Authority’s revenue generation and remittance.
The Honourable Minister gave the commendation during his maiden visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the NPA as part of 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 Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation Dr. Magdalene Ajani, some Directors and other top officials of the Ministry.
Speaking, Sambo expressed the Federal Government’s satisfaction of how the NPA Management reforms were impacting positively on the nation’s maritime sector and by extension the economy at large, with regards to international best practices and the shoring up of income earned.
The Hon. Minister also solicited for further cooperation 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.
He said all such efforts would gear towards making the port environment more efficient and customer-friendly, in order to attract investments and remain relevant within the comity of maritime nations.
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.
He said that the Lekki Deep Seaport and the recently approved Badagry Deep Sea Port would create avenues of jobs for Nigerians, encourage trade and investment and further boost revenue generation for the country.
He also charged 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.
“We are ready to assist you in ensuring that the use of Barges is 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,” the Minister said.
While welcoming the Hon. Minister and his entourage earlier, the NPA MD informed them and other stakeholders, of the Management’s resolve to further position the nation’s sea ports in line with international best practices.
Bello 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 Hon. 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 said that the Management had begun 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 to 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.
