Apapa gridlock, poor access road, others top on agenda of NPA board

The newly inaugurated board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has given fresh hope to port users as it promised to ameliorate their awful encounter while travelling in and out of the Apapa and Tin-Can Island seaports.

Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye, chairman of the board, who spoke during the swearing ceremony, said that the members are perfecting plans to address the issues around the perennial Apapa gridlock, poor access roads- leading to the ports and non-functional truck holding bay, idling away for months after the government committed over a billion naira into the building project.

According to him, the Board will in collaboration with the management and the Federal Ministry of Transportation, explore common strategies to ensure the speedy passage of the much awaited Ports and Harbour bill, currently on the floor of the National Assembly. “This is to provide appropriate framework for rapid port expansion and development.”

The appointment, Adesoye pointed, offers the platform for the members to contribute towards economic growth through the port. “The role of NPA in the industrialisation and growth of Nigeria’s economy particularly at this time of economic recession cannot be over-emphasised, because the maritime sector is one of the most important revenue earners after the crude oil. Therefore, it behoves on the board to come up with policies capable of rejuvenating the NPA with a view to confronting and overcoming its present challenges.”

“Our board shall seek to ensure that the NPA is run, in line with modern best practices comparable to the best ports in the maritime world. The aim is to ensure that within our tenure of service, the Nigerian ports would be elevated to a higher pedestal that will make it the hub of maritime business in both the west and central African Sub-region,” he added.

Adesoye added that the board would also partner terminal and other ports operators in trying to remove all the encumbrances militating against the desire to achieve optimum port services to attract bigger vessel to call the port. “We shall also pursue the core values of efficiency, customer and stakeholder’s satisfaction, safety and security in an innovative manner.”

Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie