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The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has stated that it would collaborate with the Japanese Government in the areas of technical and manpower support as both agencies aspire to institute a regime of operational efficiency at the nation’s seaports.
The Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman gave this assurance in a recent business meeting held at the NPA headquarters during the visit of the First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria of the Economic/Development Cooperation, Mr. Gaku Sato.
The Managing Director who was represented by Professor Idris Abubakar, the Executive Director Engineering and Technical Services, informed stakeholders that the management was aware of the smooth relationship and technical collaboration hitherto existing between the Japanese Government and the NPA over the years especially in the area of training.
She added that the “NPA Management was desirous of nurturing this dispensation to maturity. We look forward to more training especially in the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and human capital development useful to our staff in view of the changing trends in the sector”.
According to her, this has impacted positively in the productivity of the Organization’s operations across board. So, she called for a more robust synergy between both nations with the view to promoting the goals of the present Management concerning trade facilitation within Sub-Saharan-Africa and beyond.
Usman assured the visiting Secretary of the Japanese Corporation that NPA Management was upholding the Federal Government’s 25 year Port Master Plan which serves as a guide towards the implementation of the various policies and development in the sector aimed at making our Ports a hub in sub-Sahara Africa.
Earlier in his address, the Japanese representative in Nigeria on Economic/Development and Cooperation, Mr. Gaku Sato informed NPA 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 noting that the sector play a vital role in the life of any nation through windows and corridors of trade facilitation.
Mr. Sato further reiterated that at present, over 30 companies of Japanese origin are presently doing business in Lagos in the area of manufacturing, car/motor bike assembling and entertainment aside other trading establishment. He wished this would grow with the renewed and reinvigorated synergy amongst the two countries – Nigeria and Japan.
He solicited for NPA’s assistance through the provision of its blue print and platform to aid other teams expected in the country soon to access the readiness of Management in the area of future collaboration and development in the Port sector thereby stimulating the economy.
He enthused that the Japanese Government through the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) was willing 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.
