With Launch of Two Tug Boats, Amaechi, Hadiza Restate Govt’s Commitment to Achieve Greater Operational Efficiency at Ports
Managing Director, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman making a speech on the occasion of the launching of MT Musawa and MT Ikoro-Ekiti in Lagos weekend..
The Transportation Minister, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi weekend restated federal government’s commitment to achieve greater operational efficiency at the nation’s ports.
Amechi who spoke on the occasion of the launch of two tug boats belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said government’s desire was to ensure that there was ease of doing business at the seaports with provision of necessary facilities.
Addressing stakeholders through virtual unveiling ceremony in Lagos, Amaechi said the two boats, the MT Musawa and MT Ikere-Ekiti, acquired by the NPA, were part of the efforts at improving on services at the ports.
He added that government has to think of giving the maritime sector the best considering that the sector remains critical to the nation’s economic growth.
He said, “If anyone was in doubt as to the importance of the maritime sector to Nigerian and global economy, the event of the past three months where ports across the world have remained open in spite of the comprehensive lockdown of virtually other sectors should instruct on why priority attention has to be given to the sector”.
He added that it was government’s determination to ensure that other sectors of the economy were developed as a way of reducing reliance on the oil sector.
According to him, the pivotal roles of the maritime sector and its pride of place in actualizing the fundamental objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the present administration.
Amaechi, “We understand that not less than 85 percent of the country’s external trade passes through the seaports and are committed to repositioning the ports for greater efficiency. The much talked about the transition from a mono-product into a diversified economy is heavily dependent on how robust we can make our maritime space and we are committed to achieving this.
“As you are aware, work is ongoing on President’s directive that all seaport locations must be linked up to the standard gauge rail line even as we are determined to link up the 36 state capitals with the Federal Capital, Abuja with standard gauge rail services.
“I particularly want to commend the NPA for delivering on this project nine-month ahead of schedule. This is the kind of efficiency that the administration wants to entrench in the polity and I am happy that we are making progress.
“Government is determined in developing the sector because it occupies a fundamental place in the actualisation of the economy recovery growth plan (ERGP) of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration”.
The Chairman Board of Directors of NPA, Mr Akin Ricketts, said the acquisition of the boats was mainly to ensure that Nigerian ports are given world class services.
Ricketts said it was determination of the authority to ensure that it does everything to contribute to the growth of maritime sector growth, adding that all stakeholders should also join the sector in this regard.
Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, in her address on the occasion said NPA will continue to upgrade facilities to enhance better service delivery.
Recalling the objectives of 2006 port reform, Hadiza assured that the NPA was committed to play its strategic statutory obligations for the best interest of the industry.
Amechi who spoke on the occasion of the launch of two tug boats belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said government’s desire was to ensure that there was ease of doing business at the seaports with provision of necessary facilities.
Addressing stakeholders through virtual unveiling ceremony in Lagos, Amaechi said the two boats, the MT Musawa and MT Ikere-Ekiti, acquired by the NPA, were part of the efforts at improving on services at the ports.
He added that government has to think of giving the maritime sector the best considering that the sector remains critical to the nation’s economic growth.
He said, “If anyone was in doubt as to the importance of the maritime sector to Nigerian and global economy, the event of the past three months where ports across the world have remained open in spite of the comprehensive lockdown of virtually other sectors should instruct on why priority attention has to be given to the sector”.
He added that it was government’s determination to ensure that other sectors of the economy were developed as a way of reducing reliance on the oil sector.
According to him, the pivotal roles of the maritime sector and its pride of place in actualizing the fundamental objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the present administration.
Amaechi, “We understand that not less than 85 percent of the country’s external trade passes through the seaports and are committed to repositioning the ports for greater efficiency. The much talked about the transition from a mono-product into a diversified economy is heavily dependent on how robust we can make our maritime space and we are committed to achieving this.
“As you are aware, work is ongoing on President’s directive that all seaport locations must be linked up to the standard gauge rail line even as we are determined to link up the 36 state capitals with the Federal Capital, Abuja with standard gauge rail services.
“I particularly want to commend the NPA for delivering on this project nine-month ahead of schedule. This is the kind of efficiency that the administration wants to entrench in the polity and I am happy that we are making progress.
“Government is determined in developing the sector because it occupies a fundamental place in the actualisation of the economy recovery growth plan (ERGP) of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration”.
The Chairman Board of Directors of NPA, Mr Akin Ricketts, said the acquisition of the boats was mainly to ensure that Nigerian ports are given world class services.
Ricketts said it was determination of the authority to ensure that it does everything to contribute to the growth of maritime sector growth, adding that all stakeholders should also join the sector in this regard.
Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, in her address on the occasion said NPA will continue to upgrade facilities to enhance better service delivery.
Recalling the objectives of 2006 port reform, Hadiza assured that the NPA was committed to play its strategic statutory obligations for the best interest of the industry.
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