The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi has said that the Authority is prepared to partner with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on its Train for Trade Port Training Programme so that the Authority can continue to keep abreast of developments in Port operations.
Malam Abdullahi made this statement last week while receiving a delegation of the United Nation’s Institution who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lagos.
The Managing Director disclosed that training was very important to the Authority, stressing that because of the competition from other Ports in the West Africa sub-region, there was need to acquire necessary skills that will facilitate efficient and smooth port operations.
He directed that the Human Resources Division should liaise with the delegation with a view to ascertaining specific areas of needs and how best both parties can mutually benefit from each other.
Earlier the leader of delegation Mr Mark Assaf had told the Managing Director that Train for Trade Port Training Programme, in conjunction with Irish Aid of the Irish Government, operates through four language based networks; English, French, Portuguese and Spanish in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latrine America.
Mr Assaf said further that the programme was part of UNCTAD Corporate Social Responsibility to developing countries and a way of showing commitment to Ports operations internationally.
While urging the Managing Director to assist in mobilising other stakeholders in the maritime industry to key into it, he said the programme has been of immense benefit to participating countries. .
Meanwhile NPA has joined other stakeholders to express concern over the traffic gridlock which has affected access into Apapa in the last couple of days.
The gridlock which is affecting the smooth delivery of cargoes at the Ports is attributed to the bad access roads into Apapa, which is worsened by the rainy season and the on-going reconstruction of the Apapa – Oshodi Expressway.
The NPA MD who expressed the concern of the Authority on the periodic traffic gridlock in the access road regretted that the situation if left unchecked could have an adverse effect on the activities of both the Lagos Port complex (LPC) and Tin Can Island Port (TCIP).
He therefore called for an urgent collaborative effort by all the major stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector to address the challenge and further disclosed that the Authority had initiated plans to host a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the way forward.
Reiterating the vital roles of access roads into Apapa on Port operations in the area, Malam Abdullahi expressed the commitment of the NPA to cooperate and work with relevant government agencies to find a lasting solution to the perennial traffic gridlock into Apapa.
While commending the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Works for the award of the contract for reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola for finding solution to the problem, he also enjoined the contractors to expedite action for the completion of the road in a good time to reduce the acute hardship faced by road the users.
