The Nigerian Shippers, Council (NSC), has tasked the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), on the need to provide ports infrastructure for port operators.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Hassan Bello made it clear that the survival of the maritime industry depends on the creation of a conducive environment for investors through the provision of adequate infrastructure.
He stated this while on a courtesy call to the NPA Headquarters.
Barr. Bello who was received by the Managing Director NPA, Alhaji Ado Bayero Sanusi, acknowledged the recent improvements on E-payments, dredging of the draft channels to encourage more and larger ships.
According to him “we want to become the hub of maritime activities in the region, so we urge the NPA to listen to the problems of terminal operators, which includes access road to port, infrastructure, costs of operations and ease of doing business in the ports.”
He said “for the maritime industry to realize its potential there must be consultations all the time, Unisom and symmetry in the system, once we can get the support of NPA we will achieve a lot because already we have the support of Customs.”
Among the requests enumerated by Barr, Bello to the NPA includes: requests for unintrusive space in the ports, a solution to the deplorable condition of the access roads, Partnership with NPA to improve ports operations and to create dry docks in states like Kano to decongest Lagos terminals,
Responding for NPA, the Executive Director Marine Operations, Engr. Daniel Omonibeke, apologized to NSC for not consulting with them to get their approval before embarking on the increase of tariffs of terminal operators.
He argued “NPA tariffs is not really high as people perceive but other factors affects cost like access roads in and out of the ports, it is not our responsibility but we will see what we can do to bring relief, regards your request for space, NPA has created space for a representative in berth meetings, NSC can have an office outside the ports with unlimited access in and out of the ports.”
He cautioned that issues raise should be discharged effectively without bias for the interest of all stakeholders.
Ado Bayero in his address assured the NSC that the NPA is willing to work with the council in the interest of progress and to conduct necessary engagements with NSC as regards issues of port operations.
Bello commended the investment of NPA in deep sea ports at Lekki in Lagos, he said that this means deeper sea channels with Larger ships coming in.
He advised that access roads to the Lekki ports should be adequately provided to avoid the mistake in the Apapa ports.
