Dantsoho on working visit to Apapa, Tin-Can Ports, pledges increased investment in port facilities

Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, on Wednesday in Lagos, pledged more investment in port facility to further enhance efficiency as he assured terminal operators of support.

He stated this when he undertook an operational tour of the Lagos Ports of Apapa and Tin-Can Island Port Complexes.

The NPA boss who visited Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited (ABTL) and APM Terminals, Apapa in the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, also visited Tin-Can Island, Lagos.

Speaking during the visit Dantsoho said “I would like to implore all terminal operators to take advantage of the investor-friendliness of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and put in more investment. Given Nigeria’s huge population, Nigerian Ports definitely deserve greater investment than what is currently obtainable.

“In alignment with the World Ports Sustainability program, this Management is keen on Ports eco-friendliness, and we will insist on investor compliance with this global imperative. On our part as a regulator we assure you of all the facilitation necessary to protect your investment and guarantee return on investment.

“As you are aware, with the commitment of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, the NPA has concluded the final phase of the Port Community System (PCS) which will provide the linkage backbone for the forthcoming National Single Window (NSW) project.”

Dantsoho who was recently elected as the first ever Nigerian President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA) stated further that “we must translate our vision of being the maritime logistics hub for sustainable Port services in Africa to reality as quickly as possible.”

Speaking to newsmen, the NPA boss stated that the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports are important to the nation’s economy and to the authority, saying the authority is ready for the implementation of the Port Community System (PCS) and upgrade of the seaports through the port modernisation upgrade.

Dantsoho, further stated that Apapa Port is currently the number one port in Nigeria as it receive the highest number of containers in the country.

“Apapa Port is the number one port for the NPA and the federal government. Apapa Port received the highest number of containers in Nigeria because of APM Terminals,” he said.

Speaking on port automation, the NPA helmsman said, “we will begin implementation of PCS. We will be on the same page with our terminal operators, other government agencies and our stakeholders. APM Terminals is 100 percent ready for the PCS and ABTL is almost ready.”

“All the terminals will have electronic integration, what is called the Port Community System, which will now advance into the National Single Window (NSW). This is a major project of the federal government and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who has been focused on that,” the MD stated.

The NPA boss further commended the terminal operators for their support through investment in the Nigerian economy.

The MD stated that the terminal operators are currently investing heavily in equipment and infrastructure but would want them to do more so that the government can achieve the aim of Port concessioning.

“Compared to the last 20 years, or even more, the reform that ended in 2006 was a clear departure from when NPA was doing both the cargo and the shipping part of the business. Right from 2006, NPA is structured in the way that we are concentrating on the ship side of the business, private sector are involved in the cargo handling, and the essence of bringing the terminal operators is for Nigeria to be able to have a more advanced infrastructure and equipment without using public sector fund.

“So, if you bring in private sector practitioners, such as terminal operators, what is expected of them by Nigeria is for them to improve infrastructure and equipment, that is the key objective. And as you can see, we have achieved part of the aim,” Dr. Dantsoho stated.

“You know, in Apapa, we have a company or terminal operators like APMT, like ABTL, and then at Tin Can, we have Five Star Logistics and others, they are doing their best to improve these two things I have mentioned, infrastructure and equipment.

“But, that is not to say that we are where we want to be or that we have achieved 100% of the goal we set out to achieve at the beginning of the day but, we are looking to see how we can improve the relationship, how we can integrate in a way that we can move faster and because of that, government is trying to see how it is going to be as soon as possible,” he stated.

The NPA boss who officially toured the port for the first time since he was appointed as the helmsman of the authority, said his next tour will be ports in the Eastern part of the country.

According to him, he toured the Apapa and Tin-Can Island Port to interact with NPA staff clearing agents and other port stakeholders.

“The tradition is that when you assume office as MD, or as board chairman of NPA, you are expected to go on tour of all facilities under your mandate. So, naturally, because Lagos is the bigger part of NPA, you start from Lagos, which is what we call the western ports. Then you now move to the Eastern ports, that is, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and all that.

“And then, even in Lagos, you start from Apapa, which is bigger than Tin-Can Island port. So, I think it’s just part of the tradition, and then to familiarize yourself with what is on ground and also to see people and have a discussion around how to move the organization forward.”