NPA Is Fully Prepared For Emergencies And Disasters —- MD

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Mallam Habib Abdullahi has assured             port users and other stakeholders that the agency  is fully prepared to combat any emergencies and disasters that may occur at any of the nation’s seaports.
 
Mallam Abdullahi gave the assurance yesterday in Lagos while receiving members of the House of Representative Committee on Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness, who paid him a courtesy visit.
 

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Mallam Habib Abdullahi has assured             port users and other stakeholders that the agency  is fully prepared to combat any emergencies and disasters that may occur at any of the nation’s seaports.
 
Mallam Abdullahi gave the assurance yesterday in Lagos while receiving members of the House of Representative Committee on Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness, who paid him a courtesy visit.
 
Represented by the Executive Director Marine and Operations, Engr. David Omonibeke, the Managing Director disclosed that the NPA’s Fire Service Department has become a reference point in Lagos State for its swift response to distress calls from public and private concerns  in the state.  This feat, he added, has attracted several commendations to NPA.
 
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee Honourable Ifedayo Abegunde, had told the Managing Director that his Committee is saddled with the constitutional responsibility of formulating pre-emptive policies on search and rescue operations in maritime and air transport industries.
 
Abegunde further said the Committee is in NPA to carry out on-the-spot assessment of the fire and life-saving facilities within Nigerian ports with a view to ascertaining if they are in line with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Standard Organisation (ISO) standards.  
 
The Committee, in company of General Manager, Health Safety and Environment, Engr. T.O. Talabi and Chief Fire Officer, Mr Wale Olayiwola was later conducted round the ports in Lagos to see emergency and disaster facilities.
 
The Committee also visited similar facilities at Nigeria Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) and MRS tanks farms.  During the tour the committee was shown the sizes, numbers, operations of the facilities and their effectiveness were also demonstrated by Fire Officers.
 
Other members of the Committee include the Deputy Chairman, Honourable Ismail Hussein, Honourable Monsuru Owolabi, Hon. Taiwo Oyewole, Hon. Rufai Chachangi and Hon. Dan Akpan.