Tag: NPA

Reps Ask Ports Authority To Reinstate Intels’ Contract

Reps Ask Ports Authority To Reinstate Intels' Contract
File photo

The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to reinstate the contract of Integrated Logistic Facilities and Services, also known as Intels Nigeria Limited.

NPA had terminated its boats pilotage monitoring and supervision contract with Intels on October 10, following the company’s alleged non-compliance with government’s policy on the Treasury Single Account (TSA)

According to the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Usman, the decision was taken on the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Intels management had, however, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the agency to reverse the termination of the contract or get ready for legal actions.

But lawmakers at the lower chambers, after debating a motion at Wednesday’s plenary, resolved to investigate the circumstances around the contract termination and ascertain if due process was followed.

They further asked the NPA and the Attorney General of the Federation to reinstate the company’s contract, pending when the investigation was concluded.

NPA To Embark On Nationwide Safety Campaign

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it will soon embark on a nationwide safety campaign to eradicate unwanted vessels on the nation’s waterways as well as met out sanctions to those who go against safety regulations.

The NPA also decried the rising rate of deaths which it says is a result of stealing petroleum products.

The Executive Director, Marine and Operations, at the headquarters of the NPA Dr Sokonte Davies said this at the Calabar Ports where he went with a delegation to ascertain the level of damage done during last Sunday’s fire disaster.

Read Also: Tank Farm Explosion Kills Ten In Cross River

Inspecting some of the damaged facilities, the Director expressed sadness over the fact that such incidents which are avoidable were a result of suspected illegalities going on in the area and negligence on the part of some residents.

Davies stated that “investigations into the root cause are ongoing and appropriate sanctions will be meted. I commend the efforts of staff of NPA to have risen to the challenge in collaboration with other agencies by deploying their facilities both at land and sea to put the situation under Control,” he added.

Drawing attention to safety regulations across board, he told journalists that a nationwide campaign will commence soon on educating the masses on safety regulations both on sea and on land.

He, however, called on parents, religious and traditional rulers as well as concerned citizens to help educate as many people as they can on the need to stop the act.

The delegation subsequently observed a minute silence for the deceased.

Maritime Workers Protest Move To Repeal NPA Act

Maritime workers have taken to the streets of Lagos to protest the move by the National Assembly to repeal the Nigerian Ports Authority Act.

In a Bill which originates from the Assembly, the lawmakers are seeking to repeal the NPA Act 2004 and establish the Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority.

The Bill according to the lawmakers, is aimed at providing for the ownership, management and development of ports and harbours and for related matters.

The workers, however, say the Bill if passed will lead to loss of jobs in the sector, as the reform targets concessioning of the operations of ports and harbours in the country.

NPA Donates Food Items To IDPs In Borno

NCFRMI Flags Off Humanitarian Support Programme For IDP's The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has donated some food as well as material items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno state, northeast Nigeria.
Some of the items apart from food included sleeping mats, bed nets, household equipment and clothing, among others.

This is coming as the government and humanitarian partners have been interfacing to meet the growing needs of the affected population.

The Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, who led the team, noted that she has also been on the forefront of the call for government to secure the release of the abducted Chibok school girls.

According to her, the donations of the NPA are part of its corporate social responsibility in commemoration of the third year of the girls’ abduction.

The government, who described the contribution as the largest from an agency, noted that it would go a long way in meeting the never ending needs of the IDPs.

The State Governor, Kashim Shettima, praised the goodwill of the NPA and it’s management, urging other agencies to take a cue from the gesture.

He also revealed that as the government gradually wins the war against insurgents, it intends to officially close all Internally Displaced Persons camps in Maiduguri by May 2017.

Okowa Orders Contractors To Speed Up Road Projects

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Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa

The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has ordered all contractors handling road projects across the state to utilize the dry season to speed up their work.

He gave the order while inspecting road projects across the state, while also commending the quality of work done so far.

He, however, pointed out areas that needed amendments.

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The governor was accompanied by some members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries.

He also expressed his pleasure over the warm welcome he had received on arriving at the Warri area.

“I feel happy, it is spontaneous and I feel happy that the projects are directly impacting on the lives of the people.”

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Furthermore, the governor reiterated his commitment in delivering his electoral promises, adding that his administration would do everything possible within its powers to ensure the delivery of quality projects that could stand the test of time.

“We are trying to utilize the dry season for road construction.

“We believe that our projects must stand the test of time, and we are using concrete on most of our roads in Warri axis and they are more than nine inches in thickness because, the roads must stand the test of time”, he said.

The governor also stressed that while the focus for now was on road construction, other sectors of the economy, especially education would also get the deserved attention during the rainy season.

Nigerian Ports Authority To Improve Operational Efficiency

Nigerian Ports Authority To Improve Operational Efficiency Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Hadiza Usman, has hinted that the agency’s priority along with the federal government is to improve its operational efficiency.

The NPA MD, revealed this on Channels Television’s breakfast programme Sunrise Daily, where she also explained that the government is working towards improving Nigeria’s business environment.

It has been 10 years since the ports went into a concession agreement and this according to Usman has indeed been successful.

However, she stressed a need to review the agreement in order to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“We are ten years into the concession agreement with the terminal operators and we believe that there’s a need to review the concession agreement.

She explained that there is a stipulated timeline for the review which should be every two years but for some reason that has not been done.

Usman however believes it is now a very appropriate time to do the review. “We have started the procedure of reviewing the respective agreements that we have across our terminals.

“The terminal operators themselves are keen to have a review because there are areas that we need to look at, 10 years post concession.

Highlighting some issues regarding the Nigerian ports, such as competitiveness and pricing, Usman stated that “the NPA is looking at the respective tariffs across the West African coast and in Africa indeed, to see how competitive our ports are”.

According to her, ports in western and central Africa are not keen to having their tariffs made public.

“I think these are some of the things we need to do as agencies of government, we need to enshrine transparency and we have started by putting our tariffs on our website.

“This is the first time the Nigerian Ports Authority is putting all our respective tariffs for the Nigerian public to see.

“We are also going to the next step of publishing them in the newspapers so that you are aware of anything the Nigerian Ports Authority is charging.

“It is important to have that transparency,” she stressed.

“The second leg to our challenge has to do with our operational competitiveness, how efficient are our ports.

“How easy is it for an entity to come into our ports, clear your goods and get out of the ports within a timely manner? Usman questioned.

However as a solution to this, she reiterated that “there are agencies of government that interface with us and we are working with them to ensure that we improve on these operational efficiencies”.

Furthermore, she revealed that one of the things that the agency is putting in place is “the national single windows project, and NPS is working on a ports community system whereby all our operations are domiciled in one single platform.

“We are working to do an interface with the Nigerian customs service and every other agency that operates in the ports, whereby you can have ease of operations.”

Buhari Approves Governing Boards For NPA, NIMASA

Muhammadu Buhari-NPA-NIMASANigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the composition of the governing board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The approval was contained in a statement by the spokesman for the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi.

The new NPA governing board has 11 members with Mr Emmanuel Adesoye as its Chairman.

The members of the board are: Supo Shasore, Suleiman Halilu, Constance Harry Mashal, Umar Shu’aibu, Charles Sylvester, Hadiza Usman, Mohammed Koko, Dr. Sekonte Davis, Professor Idris Abubakar and Mrs I. J. Uche-Okoro.

Similarly, President Buhari approved a governing board for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The NIMASA board also has 11 members, with Major General Jonathan India Garba as the Chairman.

The members of the board are: Asekomhe Kenneth, Mohammed Muazu, Ebele Obi, S. U. Galadanchi, Ms Nene Dike, Dakuku Peterside, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, Bashir Jamoh, Joseph Fashakin and Gambo Ahmed.

FG To Audit Nigeria’s Ports

Nigeria's PortsThe Federal Government has announced plans to audit Nigeria’s ports as part of efforts to improve the economy and fast track the clearing of goods.

The Minister of Transport, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, said this in Abuja shortly after a meeting with port concessionaires, dry port operators and the management of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council.

He said that the audit of the ports would determine the next step to be taken by the federal government.

He, however, reiterated the federal government’s determination to diversify the nation’s economy.

BBOG Co-founder, Hadiza Usman Is New MD of NPA

Hadiza Usman, NPA, BBOGMrs Hadiza Usman has been appointed Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

She takes over from Alhaji Habib Abdullahi, who was reinstated by the President in August 2015 as the MD of the NPA.

Mrs Usman previously served as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

She shot to national prominence in 2014 when Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok area in Borno State.

In conjunction with the former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, they co-founded the #Bringbackourgirls group, which brought global attention to the plight of the kidnapped girls.

Her appointment took effect on Monday, July 11 along with other appointments just approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Railway Corporation Set To Introduce Scheduled Train Service

Railway corporation, Train serviceThe Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Mr Fidet Okiriah, says Scheduled Trade Train Service would soon commence in the country.

Mr Okiriah revealed the latest plan during his 1-day working visit to the Eastern District of the Nigeria Railway Corporation in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.

He said that this will improve movement of goods and services from one state to another in the most convenient way while keeping to time schedules judiciously.

During the visit, the National Vice President of the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers, Innocent Kalu, who spoke for the workers, welcomed their boss with words of appreciation for finding time to visit them and to ascertain their welfare condition.

He reeled out their challenges and appealed for promotion, payment of allowances and overtime, and improved train services from Enugu to Igbede.

He also asked for re-connection of NPA rail line that was disconnected to boost synergy between Railway Corporation and the Maritime and also to expedite action to end cases of casual workers especially in the Eastern district.

The District Manager, Eastern District Headquarters, Ola Adeeyinwo, also made appeals for the provision of rolling stalk that will facilitate train services from Enugu to Ehamufu.

Mr Okiriah, in his response, promised that every benefit they deserve would be given to them in due course as the Scheduled Trade Train Service will increase revenue generation, improve the services of the corporation and translate into better life for workers.

He also gave the assurance of tidying up the challenges in commencing train services along Enugu-Ehamufu axis where major economic activities take place.

He, however, asked them to improve the railway services with more dedication to work and development of advertisement skills.