Fred Adjuzie (Chairman, NAGAFF Apapa Chapter)
I don't see what the NPA is doing at the port for now, they are not helping matters, if the Federal Government or the Senate looks into the affairs of NPA and suggests that it should be scrapped then so be it. But I am of the opinion that NPA senior officers should be demoted, they are no longer relevant and the government is losing money by continuing to pay them. If you go to NPA you will see big offices belonging to different General Managers, if government cannot scrap the NPA, then they should reduce the officers in the agency, they are too many, and many of them have gotten so much money to go and establish other private businesses. Graduates are turned out in this country every year and yet some people sit in offices not doing anything, senior officers of NPA are idle and they need to be demoted.
Dr. Zebulon Ikokide (Maritime Trainer)
This is not a matter of support or not. Apart from Security and Harbour departments of NPA, no other department is working. All the money NPA collect are also being collected by the Terminal Operators. This is why people say that it is costly to do business in Nigeria. You remember that when NPA was handling cargo discharge and delivery, the charges were one, but now NPA charges the importers and the Terminal Operators also charge the importers; double charges. Actually if they (NPA) are not there, doing business in the port will be cheaper than it is at present. What the Government should do is to set a small unit that is technical in nature and warehouse the present security and harbour department to oversee the berthing and sailing of vessels and the implementation of the ISPS code. The essence of having managing director and a host of General Managers is uncalled for and a sure waste of Government scarce resources.
Prof. Alex Okwuashi (Rector, Certified Institute of Shipping of Nigeria)
I don't support the move by the Senate to scrap NPA. The Senate lacks Maritime Domain Awareness. Over 99% of their members do not understand the strategic roles and contributions of the ports, shipping and generally maritime to national income both GDP and international trade. The senate also doesn't understand the composition of maritime administration. Maritime administration requires inter-agency collaboration. That is why NIMASA alone cannot constitute MARAD (Maritime Administration). Other collaborating agencies must play their role for MARAD duties to be completed. Note that no single agency can play the roles and functions of MARAD. NIMASA cannot play the role of NPA, and NPA cannot play the role of NIMASA, or NIWA, or Nigerian Shippers' Council.
AlhajiInuwaMuhammed (Chairman, Port Truck Owners)
Yes, I support the un-bundling of the NPA; I believe it is long overdue. If at all they must remain, the staff should be pruned down because they are not doing anything, since the ports have been concessioned to private operators, they should remain with the pilotage services and marine operation only and allow the terminal operators and other agencies for the port operations, as it is currently, the activities of the NPA in the port operations is mainly a duplication.
KayodeFarinto (National Spokesperson, ANLCA)
If anybody is thinking in that direction on the need to scrap NPA then it’s a mirage, because it is not possible; while we want the National Transport Commission bill to be expressly passed into law and some people are talking about how to scrap NPA, then they don't know the role of the NPA. If they want to scrap NPA which agency do they think will perform that function? Is it NIMASA or Shippers Council? Every agency of the government has its own role to perform. The NPA has a very vital role to play in the sector which is more technical to the ports and besides our quay aprons are being managed by the NPA today, there are structures in the ports we cannot talk about that the NPA is fully responsible to oversee at the ports. So anyone who is trying to make any move for NPA to be scrapped has never been to the ports before. If they are saying unbundling, then we can say its okay but the truth is that no sane person can think of scrapping the agency.
Samuel Babatunde (POTEMAN)
In my own opinion, we should take a clue from National Maritime Authority which transmuted to NIMASA, where additional responsibilities were given to the agency and in like manner, I think NPA should be transformed to Nigeria Ports and Harbour Authority instead of scrapping the NPA entirely, because we will lose the national interest which is very important to the sector and the economy. By the time we privatise every government assets that we have then we have automatically exposed our gateway to anything that can happen to the nation, then there will be no form of checks and balance in the various seaports that exist in the country. The eye of the government in the ports presently is the NPA and when you remove the eye, then the government is blind.
Chris Ante (Stakeholder)
I don't think its proper for the Senate to consider scrapping the NPA knowing fully that the agency is as old as the port itself. If the Senate is considering such motive then I will say its improper on their part and that is why we will continue to canvass for people who understand the sector properly to be elected, appointed or selected for such key positions. I think scrapping of NPA is not the solution for effective port performance, but to rejig the agency.
EniolaOdulaja (Stakeholder)
There is no way the Senate can say they want to scrap NPA because there is no other option. If we say unbundled then I can agree with them. It is unfortunate that the people at the National Assembly don't know what the role of NPA is to the maritime sector, therefore I urge them to have a rethink.
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