The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has granted approval for a Private Public Partnership (PPP) of N72 billion for the ports access road in Apapa and Tin Can Island.
The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman, revealed this in Lagos on Thursday, at the quarterly summit of the Ports Consultative Council (PCC).
Meanwhile, in its bid to enhance navigational efficiency and safety in the nation’s seaports, the Federal Government will soon institute a Wreck Insurance Policy (WIP) on all vessels calling at the Nigerian ports.
Usman, who also revealed at the event, said the policy will provide avenue for the port management to evacuate abandoned vessels in the entire nation’s territorial waters.
The Managing Director while commenting on the issue of trucks and access to the nation’s seaports, said very soon only trucks that are housed in the proposed trailer parks will be allowed entry into the port locations; adding that “The Management is to deploy an electronic call-up system that allows access to the ports only when they are needed”
She told the meeting that the Apapa Wharf Road reconstruction project has reached 85 per cent completion, while assuring stakeholders that the road would be fully completed in the next four to six weeks period.
Usman stressed that the efficient utilization of Inland Water Ways is key to resolving the decongestion of the Ports access road.
She stated that a company Connect-Rail, which is one of the private components engaged by the Authority to provide barge evacuation, is currently moving cargoes and several tons of containers between Ikorodu to the Terminals through the water.
The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority is desirous on how it can use the water ways farther even away from Ikorodu to other locations to really ease the congestion out of Apapa and Tin can Island axis.
Speaking on the importance of the Port Consultative Council meeting, the convener and chairman of the Council, Otunba Kunle Folarin said that the meeting is strategic and an avenue to examine issues relating to the operations of the Port Industry especially as it concerns Port operators.
Otunba Folarin said that at the end of the meeting, the Council always comes up with a Blue print that would enhance efficient port operation and management.
Kunle Folarin earlier described the Managing Director of NPA in three words: Decisive, Resourceful and Engaging.
He commended the NPA boss for her resilience in addressing issues that affect port operations in its entirety, which he noted as germane for efficient port administration in the country.
