Contrary to insinuations that Nigerian port environment is dirty, the Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Nasir Anas, has said that the port environment is fairly clean.
The port manager gave the verdict at the end of a sanitation walk at the Apapa Port in Lagos yesterday to mark the 2013 Customer Service Week by the NPA.
Anas appreciated NPA customers and port users, saying that they have so far maintained a clean and healthy environment for business.
Contrary to insinuations that Nigerian port environment is dirty, the Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Nasir Anas, has said that the port environment is fairly clean.
The port manager gave the verdict at the end of a sanitation walk at the Apapa Port in Lagos yesterday to mark the 2013 Customer Service Week by the NPA.
Anas appreciated NPA customers and port users, saying that they have so far maintained a clean and healthy environment for business.
"The port is quite clean, outside the port is also reasonably clean, members of this community appreciate keeping their environment neat, we actually did little in terms of garbage collection because we discovered that the road has been tidy", he declared.
He explained that the sanitation exercise was carried out in conjunction with the Apapa Local Development Council in order to ensure sustainability of a clean environment.
"What we are doing together is a cleaning exercise, it is in the form of giving back to the society, it is part of the activities we are undertaking for the customer service week which runs from 7th to 11th of October 2013", he added.
"Part of what we intend is to give back to the customers, something from ourselves, and this is in terms of coming out to dedicate an hour or two to go round our immediate environment to do some cleaning exercise" he said
Anas said that the celebration will come to a close today with other activities to celebrate the week and recognize its employees, esteemed customers, partners and clients for services rendered, steadfastness, loyalty and patronage.
He also sought partnership of the private sector for the sustainability of the Customer Service Week, an annual event celebrated worldwide, every first week of October, even as he hinted that the port management has already opened talks with organised haulage companies to streamline operations of trucks loading cargoes in the port.
He added that, the Apapa Local Government is very disposed towards collaborating on the customer week, “they are really encouraging us, we are observing this year’s programme together”, he stated.
On efforts to rid the port of rickety trucks which get broken down along the port access roads, thereby causing traffic gridlock, the port manager explained that, “we are engaging some private partners who are going to bring in brand new trucks.
“They will operate a consolidated truck management system whereby only these new trucks will have access to the ports. This will also bring about peace of mind on the part of shippers concerning their cargoes.
“This will also erase the issue of traffic bottlenecks that usually arise due to bad and old trucks coming into the ports.
“Our safety department has been discussing with the truck drivers on the minim um safety standard of the type of trucks that should come in the ports. We want to make them see that it is equally for their own good.”
On when the new trucks will become operational, he said, “the new trucks will become operational within the next one year. We are trying to ensure that the various truck associations come together and consolidate to form one or two or three holding companies so that they can source these vehicles that are being provided by the private companies.
“Because when they consolidate, it will be easier for them to get loans or support from other agencies of government which helps them to dispose the rickety and old trucks they are currently using.”
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