The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Ms Hadiza Bala Usman has pledged to work with professionals in the maritime sector and make the ports attractive to business.
According to Usman, NPA was more determined to close the gaps between the agency and the professionals by engaging them in most of its activities to promote port business.
Speaking when members of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (PCC), visited her office, the NPA helmsman told the group that she would need their input and the input of other professionals to move the industry forward.
NPA, she said, will find solution to the issue of gridlock in Apapa and fix the access road to boost port operations
She expressed concern over other challenges facing the ports and assured the group of her determination to find a lasting solution to the problems.
NPA, she said, would look critically at all the recommendations made by the group and promised to implement the good ones to boost the economy.
She also expressed the readiness of her management team to pursue the issue of making the ports competitive in the sub-region to a logical conclusion to improve the performance of the ports by developing port infrastructure, regulating charges and making the ports more cost effective.
While calling on members of the Council to support the NPA in its drive to make the port a hub in the sub-region, she also assured them that all irregularities and arbitrariness in the ports system would be addressed by her team.
In his address, the Chairman of PCC, Otunba Kunle Folarin said the Council is the only body that harbours many varied and diverse professionals and stakeholders under one roof and urged the management of NPA to always reach out to all stakeholders.
