The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko has been honoured as the Public Sector Icon of the year 2022 by Vanguard newspaper.
Bello-Koko was honoured for his contributions to the Nigerian economy through various far-reaching result-oriented innovations at NPA.
The award is coming less than one week after the Federal Government commended staff of the Agency for contributing to growth in the sector and the larger economy.
Accepting the award, Bello-Koko said “We (NPA)) are particularly delighted and honored that some third eye has noticed and recognized our efforts at reforming the maritime industry.”.
The NPA boss said: “I must admit that I feel incredibly honored to have received the Public Sector Icon of the Year Award 2022 by Vanguard Newspaper.
“The award is a recognition of the improvements we have achieved over the past year since my confirmation as the substantive Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority.
“We are particularly delighted and honored that some third eye has noticed and recognized our efforts at reforming the maritime industry. This is both encouraging and intuitive.
“Over the last year, we have consummated FDIs totaling over 2-billion dollars in port equipment, expansion, and development, (Lekki port, $1.5b; WACT Onne; $100m amongst others), as well as freeing up the notorious traffic congestion at the Apapa Ports.
“We have rehabilitated key port infrastructure across the six ports and are continuing to seek low-cost funds to completely rehabilitate TinCan and Apapa Ports.
“We are also reviewing a couple of requests to construct a deep-water port along the eastern corridor in order to expand opportunities across the country.
“Especially noteworthy is that the Nigerian Ports Authority’s primary responsibility is to facilitate trade. The greater the volume of trading, the more jobs and revenue it would generate for the government. Therefore, the first set of reforms we embarked on was to remove trade barriers and digitize our processes.
“We are hopeful that the media and the general public will continue to recognize our modest contributions to nation-building and job creation”.
