The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has assured all host communities within the maritime sub sector that the it would effectively synergise with them with a view to addressing some of their needs in order to guarantee a peaceful and harmonious environment for its operation to thrive at the nation’s sea ports.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman who made this statement during an official working visit to the palace of the Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Rilwan Babatunde Aremu Akiolu.
The NPA MD said that the management of the NPA would consider host communities for gainful employment in line with the principles of level playing field for all Nigerians who are qualified for vacant positions within the Organisation when advertised by Management.
According to Bala Usman, the visit to the Oba’s palace was necessitated by the need to seek collaboration and synergy in our task to run the NPA most efficiently. She said there is a critical need to engender a very good relationship with all host states and communities and link up with the monarch from whom we enlist support in our mandates to improve performance of the ports thereby enriching the standard of living of our people.
Responding, the Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Rilwan Babatunde Aremu Akiolu urged the management of the NPA to be very determined and focused in their drive to operate efficiently, adding that for a successful tenure, they “would require to enlist the support of your people particularly the stakeholders whom you need to be transparent to”.
HRM Oba Rilwan Babatunde enjoined the workforce to work hard and co-operate with the management in order to build a very virile port industry that could be competitive in the sub region.
The NPA’s management facility and locations visits which is an on-going event, is expected to amongst others, avail them of better understanding of the industry, key players and stakeholders in the sector.
