The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) have reiterated their resolve to work, collaborate and partner with a view to enhancing the revenue generation strategies of the Federal Government from the nation’s seaports.
According to the duo, one way of achieving this goal is the creation of a conducive working environment that will be of mutual benefit to both the management and operations of the two organisations.
Both the Managing Director (MD) NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi and the Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (Rtd) have stressed the need for the two agencies to see themselves as “partners in progress”, working together for the good of the nation’s economy.
According to a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, NPA, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, the NPA Managing Director, who commended the Customs Comptroller General for considering it fit to visit the Corporate Headquarters of NPA explained that as “Customs direct call ports”, the Authority would ensure that there is high level of operational efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery at the nation’s ports.
Abdullahi who reasoned that since the commencement of the present concession regime in 2006, activities have increased in the ports with the terminal operators, added that with the greater cooperation between the Authority and NCS, the performance of the nation’s ports in areas of turnaround time of vessels and cargo dwell time will be substantially reduced and lower to the barest minimum the cost of doing business in our Ports.
The MD said there was the need for the two agencies to collaborate in ensuring proper security at the ports and especially the entrances, adding “We think we should collaborate better in this area being the two of the foremost government agencies in the Port”.
Abdullahi appealed to all officers and men of the NCS to support and ensure the success of the newly appointed Comptroller General of the Service, pointing out that the success of the new Comptroller General should be of paramount concern to them all.
