The new Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye has assured Nigerians that the new board would collectively and positively impact on the NPA, particularly, that of rejuvenating the Authority’s performance of its core mandate.

The Board’s Chairman who indicated this during his acceptance speech also, specifically noted the need to make the NPA the “hub of maritime business in both the West and Central African Sub-region”, as well as addressing the perennial Apapa gridlock and poor access roads to the ports, including the lack or absence of any functional truck holding bay.

“It therefore behoves on our Board in the performance of its oversight functions to come up with concrete policies capable of rejuvenating the Authority with a view to confronting and overcoming its present challenges”, indicated the Chairman of the board, adding that having received the news of their appointment with “great enthusiasm and humility”, they must now collectively “further the advancement of the nation, through one of the prime drivers of the economy – the Nigerian Ports Authority”.

“In actualizing this conviction, we shall seek expert advice both within and outside the Authority.

“Indeed the role of Nigerian Ports Authority in the industrialization and growth of Nigeria’s economy particularly at this period of economic recession cannot be overemphasized when it is realized that the maritime sector is one of the most important revenue earners  after the crude oil sector.

“Consequently, in transmitting the positive values of change in all ramifications, our Board shall seek to ensure that the Nigerian Ports Authority is run in line with modern best practices comparable to the best ports in the maritime world.

“The objective here is to ensure that within our tenure of service, the Nigerian Ports Authority is elevated to a higher pedestal that will make it the hub of maritime business in both the West and Central African Sub-region.

“Further to the above, the board shall seek to improve the fortunes of the maritime sector by collaborating with sister agencies such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), Ports’ Concessionaires  and others in the implementation of government maritime policies.

“In achieving this goal, the board shall not lose sight in partnering with terminal and other Ports operators in removing all encumbrances militating against our collective desire to achieve optimum performance and improved port services capable of attracting higher vessel patronage, which in turn will translate into more revenue for the nation.

“In addition, the Board in collaboration with the Management and the Federal Ministry of Transportation will also explore common strategies to ensure the speedy passage into law “the Ports and Harbour bill” by the National Assembly.

“It is hoped that the bill when passed into law will provide appropriate framework for rapid port expansion and development including capacity building.
In the performance of our oversight functions, we shall resolutely commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in service predicated on zero tolerance to corruption and its associated vices and also strengthen our regulatory role to Concessionaires at all the ports.

“We shall also pursue the core values of efficiency, customer and stakeholders satisfaction, safety and security in an innovative manner.

“Honourable Minister Sir, our Board in the coming days or weeks will be addressing along with the local management, the perennial Apapa gridlock, poor access roads – leading to the ports and absence or should I say non-functional truck holding bay – all of which had made port business a tasking venture.

“On a final note, Honourable Minister Sir, we affirm our unalloyed commitment to work harmoniously with the Ministry of Transportation under your able and dynamic leadership and by the same token work closely and cooperatively with the Management of Nigerian Ports Authority as we jointly strive to make Nigerian Ports Authority the leading Port in Africa”, Emmanuel Adesoye stated further, thanking President Mohammadu Buhari for granting them unique opportunity to positively bring to bear through NPA, their collective wealth of experiences, in moving Nigeria forward.