- As Japan offers to refurbish Apapa Power sub-station
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has assured that it would collaborate with the Japanese Government in all ramification, particularly in the areas of technical and manpower support, in an aim to boost operational efficiency.
The Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman indicated this in Lagos, while hosting the First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria on Economic / Development Cooperation, Mr. Gaku Sato, who proposed to undertake the refurbishment of the Apapa Power sub-station,
“Management is aware of the smooth relationship and current technical collaboration existing between the Japanese Government and the NPA, especially in the area of training, and is desirous of nurturing this dispensation to maturity”, the Managing Director who was represented by the Executive Director Engineering and Technical Services, Professor Idris Abubakar said, during a business meeting, held at the Corporate Headquarters, in Marina, Lagos.
“We look forward to more training especially in the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and human capital development that will be useful to our staff, in view of the changing trends in the sector”, she stated further, noting that such trainings in the past had impacted positively on the Organization’s productivity and operational efficiency, across board.
She urged for a more robust synergy between Nigeria and Japan towards enhanced promotion of the goals of the present NPA Management in relation to trade facilitation within sub-Sahara Africa.
Usman assured the visiting Secretary of the Japanese Corporation that NPA would uphold the Federal Government’s 25 year Port Master Plan which presently serves as a guide towards the implementation of various policies and development in the sector, in an aim of making the nation’s Ports a hub within sub-Sahara Africa.
Earlier in his address, Mr. Gaku Sato informed Management that the Japanese Government was exploring trade and investment opportunities in Nigeria through a most efficient infrastructure and manpower development, especially in the Port environment.
Highlighting that the Maritime sector plays a vital role in the life of every nation by creating constantly unfolding windows of opportunities for trade and investments, Sato disclosed that over 30 companies of Japanese origin are presently doing business in Lagos in the areas of manufacturing, car/motor bike assembling and entertainment, aside from other trading establishment.
He expressed a desire to further grow up this figure, by leveraging on the renewed and reinvigorated synergy between Nigeria and Japan.
He solicited Management’s assistance through the provision of its blue print and platform, so as to aid other Japanese teams expected in Nigeria soon towards assisting Management in the area of port development.
He assured of the Japanese Government’s willingness, through the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) to undertake the refurbishment of the Apapa Power sub-station, in order to contribute towards a seamless Port operations, having carried out similar projects in Jebba and Abuja.
Members of the NPA team who received the Japanese Embassy Secretary were General Managers, Western Ports, Arch. Abiodun Gbadamosi, Physical Planning and Development, Engr. A.R. Mohammed, Maintenance, Engr. A.A. Jatto amongst others.
