Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen
Terminal operators at the nations’ sea-ports have been urged to keep up with their financial obligations as highlighted in memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with the federal Government.
This according to the Chairman of the Senate Marine Transport Committee, Senator Ahmed Rufai Sanni is important for the nation to tap effectively into the dividends accrued to it from the operations at the port.
A statement signed by the NPA’s General Manger, Public Affairs MK Ajayi which was made available to Authentic Platform news Nigeria stated that Sani made this appeal in Port-Harcourt yesterday when he and his committee members carried out oversight supervision of locations at Port-Harcourt and Onne Ports in the eastern axis of the operations of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Sani also charged the management of NPA to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the process and harnessing of all generated funds with the view to ensuring prompt and holistic collection of these at this time as a way of contributing most efficiently towards recovery from the current economic down-turn.
He said the committee will work in tandem with the management of the NPA towards optimal utilization of eastern ports.
Earlier, the General manager; eastern ports Abdullahi Goje requested the committee to bring to the knowledge of the government the need to fast track the provision of better security to enable the location operate more profitably in line with best practices.
Goje stressed that it was also important to ensure bigger vessels call at eastern ports through regular dredging of the channels therein.
The oversight function of the committee is a continuum which is expected to take them through all locations of the operations of the NPA.
Top management of the NPA were part of the event led by Mr. Joshua Asanga, Port manager, Onne: Alhassan Abubakar, and port manager-Port-Harcourt port: A.G Umar.
Supporting the Chairman of the committee,Senator Ahmed Rufai Sanni were senators: Paulker Emmanuel, Clifford Ordia, Ben Uwajimogu.
