By Moses Ebosele, ebosele@hotmail.com —-
As Nigerians grapple with the challenges associated with Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other Shareholders have resolved to donate the fully furnished 130-bed Agura Hotel as isolation centre in Abuja.
NPA is the majority shareholder of Agura Hotels. Management of the Agency on Friday described the development as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilty (CSR) aimed at “supporting efforts of the Federal Government to contain the spread of the virus in Nigeria”.
In a statement issued by General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Jatto A Adams, NPA also advised Nigerians to “follow all advisories issued by the National Centre for Disease Control and be confident that Nigeria shall overcome”.
Meanwhile, NPA has directed all Terminal operators to suspend all applicable terminal storage fees on consignments(demurrage) from an initial period of twenty-one days effective March 23, 2020.
The Agency explained that the gesture is in recognition of the “pressure that the COVID-19 pandemic imposes on businesses, the responsibility imposed on the Authority to relief this burden on its customers as well as attaining the objective of the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business Policy at this trying period.
“The Authority recognises the financial implications of these policies on the terminal operators and will consider a shift in our operational charges to ameliorate the situation of stakeholders”.
