The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has pledged its full support to the activities of the Committee on Corruption Risk Assessment project as the committee commences risk assessment study of select ports across the country.
The Managing Director NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi who gave the assurance in Lagos also expressed optimism that the nation’s port system would be better off at the end of the Committee’s assignment.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has pledged its full support to the activities of the Committee on Corruption Risk Assessment project as the committee commences risk assessment study of select ports across the country.
The Managing Director NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi who gave the assurance in Lagos also expressed optimism that the nation’s port system would be better off at the end of the Committee’s assignment.
Receiving members of the committee during a courtesy call, the Managing Director compared the relevance of the committee to the present anti-corruption committee in the NPA which draws membership from stakeholders.
He said the peculiarities of the nation’s ports had made it an imperative crusade, so that the port system is seen to operate maximally and efficiently.
Under the existing concession regime, Malam Abdullahi said the NPA now has sufficient time to supervise and ensure free flow of goods and services in the nation’s ports where cases of corrupt practice is at its barest minimum.
Earlier in her address, head of the committee which drew its membership from Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Technical Unit, on Government & Anti-corruption Reform (TUGAR), United Nations Development Project (UNDP), Maritime Anti Corruption Network (MACN) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Mrs Lillian Ekeanyanwu said the purpose of the committee’s visit is to carry out a Corruption Risk Assessment of ports operations in order to enhance integrity and strengthen the port system.
The Head of the Committee added that her team will embark on a Corruption Risk Assessment tour of the ports from the 15th of April to the middle of June, 2013 with the intention of conducting actual test and closing gaps at points where there are likelihood of corruption.
Mrs Ekeanyanwu equally solicited for the support and cooperation of the management of NPA, and also emphasised the need to improve on the integrity of the port system, especially as it is international based.
The main objective the Corruption Risk Assessments is to identify vulnerable areas that are prone to corruption, proffer recommendations, and jointly with the relevant MDAs develop Integrity Plans that would strengthen accountability and transparency towards enhance service delivery.
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