NPA Seeks Autonomy In Ports And Harbour Bill

Even as the maritime industry eagerly awaits the passage of the Ports and Harbour Bill by the National Assembly, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mallam Habib Abdullahi has advocated for a measure of autonomy for the organisation in the bill.
The Managing Director told members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport who were in NPA on an oversight function between Monday and Wednesday that a measure of autonomy for the agency would enable it perform most effectively and efficiently.

Even as the maritime industry eagerly awaits the passage of the Ports and Harbour Bill by the National Assembly, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mallam Habib Abdullahi has advocated for a measure of autonomy for the organisation in the bill.
The Managing Director told members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport who were in NPA on an oversight function between Monday and Wednesday that a measure of autonomy for the agency would enable it perform most effectively and efficiently.
 “No Port in the world can exist and prosper without a measure of independence, and therefore autonomy is strategic and required to ensure efficiency in line with international best practices.”
He told the committee that NPA has made tremendous progress since its visit last year, stating that vessels waiting time is now 19 days instead of 28 days and that the channels have been dredged to the required draught.
He also informed members of the committee that many foreign investors have indicated interest in ports development in Nigeria. This came to light during the recent visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to New York, explaining that this was an indication of the international recognition of the nation’s maritime potentials.
The committee inspected the on-going rehabilitation projects at NPA Headquarters, the Marina Jetty, the completed East and West Moles rehabilitation, Quay Wall reconstruction in Tincan Island Port, on-going access road construction and Rail line rehabilitation in Apapa ports.
At the Marina Jetty, the committee Chairman, Senator Zainab Kure called on NPA to reconstruct the jetty and enjoined contractors handling various projects in the Ports to expedite action and complete those projects according to specification.
At the end of the visit, Senator Kure summed up her impression thus; “We still have some issues we have to sort out with ourselves. If I am to compare what we did last year and what we saw last year with what we are seeing this year, I think there is progress. They (Authority) did not disappoint as far as what was appropriated is concerned because sometimes you appropriate and you come to a place and it still remain the way you left it. So NPA is not doing badly but there are areas we need to sit down and sort out.”
She said the performance of the NPA encourages the lawmakers to ensure that the needed funds are appropriated by the National Assembly for the modernization of port infrastructure, even as she stated that his committee will visit the Eastern ports to be sure that the level compliance in project execution show by the NPA in Western ports is replicated there.