Terminal Operators Crucial To Ports Development – NPA MD

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Malam Habib Abdullahi has said that the organisation holds the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) in high esteem and will therefore do everything within its power to encourage and sustain the existing relationship between them.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Malam Habib Abdullahi has said that the organisation holds the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) in high esteem and will therefore do everything within its power to encourage and sustain the existing relationship between them.
 Malam Habib Abdullahi who spoke while receiving members of the association who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lagos, noted that the new management appreciate the support and cooperation it gave past management of NPA and urged it to extend same to his administration.
According to him, the Federal Government attaches great importance to the maritime industry which he said was demonstrated at the recent maritime industry retreat at the Presidential Villa which was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Economic team.
He stressed the need for continuous dialogue between STOAN and NPA with a view to solving operational problems instead of talking to the pages of newspapers. 
Speaking on the occasion the chairman of the association, Dr. (Princess) Vicky Haastrup, congratulated the Managing Director and the Executive Directors on their recent appointments, saying that the association will give the new management maximum cooperation in order to move the sector forward.
Dr. Haastrup who is also the Executive Vice Chairman of ENL Consortium remarked that the new management has started on a very good note, pointing out that Malam Abdulahi is the first Managing Director of NPA that deemed it appropriate to invite her association for a visit on assumption of office.  

She disclosed that Federal Government is exploiting alternative sources of revenue, besides oil, in view of the fact that some African countries have now discovered oil and that Government focus is recently on the maritime sector, considering its huge potentials.
She further pointed out that the new Managing Director is an experienced Port Administrator who was one of those who worked for the success of the Port concession.
Dr. Hasstrup asserted that Terminal Operators are committed to the ideals of the Port reforms and that one of the reasons for forming the Association is to ensure that Government realizes the benefits of the Port concessions to the nation’s economy by complying with the terms of the concession agreement.
Other members of the association who were a part of  the visit included:  Joachim Theurkauf of Five Star Logistic Limited, Yehuda Kotik of Tin Can Island Container Limited, Ascanio Russo of Grimaldi Nigeria Limited, Mark Walsh of ENL Consortium and APMT Managing Director, Mr. Dallas Hampton.