- As Nigeria donates $2m cash, relief materials to Sierra Leone, over mudslide
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman has indicated that the Authority is currently collaborating with some foreign firms and relevant establishments, aimed at boosting revenue, through a strònger bilateral ties.
Hadiza made the observation while speaking at the 10th Anniversary of NIMPORT Annual Maritime Conference at the Oriental Hotels, Lagos,
“Government efforts in achieving Single Window Operations is to enhance swift clearance of goods, which would help to encourage the growth of businesses within the ports industry”, Hadiza who was represented by the Asst. General Manager, Commercial and Ports Promotion, Mallam Abdulrahman Lamina stated, adding that the initiative would also boost technology transfer as well as information sharing, both of which would further assist in the standardization of products for international market.
She posited that enhanced security profile at the ports would not only attract sustained investments to the sector, but also put the country in line with the dictates of International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s regulations SOLAS and ISPS code.
The NPA Boss informed stakeholders that the Federal Government is already working towards the deployment of top grade technologies and automation such as the Command, Control and Communication and Intelligence Unit (CCCI) and the revenue Invoicing Management System (RIM) series which would ensure quick financial transactions and the blocking of revenue leakages at the Ports; saying these were equally expected to help in engendering a greater enabling environment, capable of attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDIS).
In her surmation, Ms Bala Usman postulated that developing a sustainable trade relations with nations, would boost employment, encourage foreign exchange reserve and ultimately boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In his contribution, the Managing Director, Greenview Development Nigeria Ltd (GDNL) who was represented by the Head of Human Resources and Administration, David Agunbiade asserted that it should be easy to create jobs in the Nigerian Maritime Industry , especially with the high grades of natural and human resource endowments, if supported with a conducive all year round stable environment, whether geographic or of climatic conditions.
Meanwhile, the Director, Institute of Maritime Studies, University of Lagos, Prof. Olusoji Ilori has advised the Government to develop the habit of ploughing back in to the Maritime Industry.
“The Maritime Industry is key to the development of any Economy”, he emphasised, charging the government to endeavor to first plough back heavily, in order to boost the nation’s economy.
In the meantime, Nigeria has donated cash, food, medical supplies and other relief materials worth $2 million to victims of the mudslide in Sierra Leone.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sarah Sanda, said the items donated include $1 million cash, as well as 315 metric tonnes of assorted food and other relief items and over 4,000 medical supplies all amounting to another $1m.
A high-level Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, made the donation yesterday in Freetown.
The delegation, which comprises the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Maihaja and Hajiya Zainab Sharif from the Federal Ministry of Health, among others, was received at the State House by President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Onyeama expressed sadness “on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Nigeria for the August 14 tragedy”.
He added: “The history of the two countries goes far back and the blood of both countries runs through the same veins.”
The minister added that “Nigeria would always stand by Sierra Leone”.
The minister explained that owing to the large volume of relief materials, there is the possibility of sending some by sea.
So far, four flights conveying about 60 metric tonnes of relief materials have been undertaken with another 16 flights planned.
Koroma, while thanking President Muhammadu Buhari whom he referred to as a brother, noted that Buhari was “one of the first Heads of State to call and sympathise with us when the incident occurred”.
He added that Nigeria’s support to Sierra Leone was not new.
Koroma noted support provided by Nigeria during the 11 year civil war, during the Ebola epidemic and after the mudslide and flood disaster.
He expressed delight over Buhari’s return to Nigeria after a successful medical treatment in the United Kingdom.
Additional report from Nation
