Ken Okeke
The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has said that so many investment opportunities are open to private investors in the Maritime and Ports sector.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, made the call in Port Harcourt, during a facility tour of Onne and Port Harcourt ports.
The MD of NPA had visited the facilities of Intels Nigeria Limited, Onne Multi-Purpose Terminal, West Africa Container Terminal, WACT, Indorama, Notore Plant and the Premises of Port Harcourt Port. Speaking during the tour, Dantsoho, stated that the maritime and ports sector has good potential for the country, adding that the benefits of the sector can be achieved if there is massive private companies’ investment. Dantsoho said what is required to achieve the potential of the marine economy is for primate companies to invest in infrastructure, equipment, technology and in human capital development in the ports.
He said “what is required is investment from private sector. Nigeria, for us to improve capacity in ports and Maritime industry, we need private sector investments in infrastructure, investment in equipment, more investment in technology and more investment in human capital. “Here we are is a good example of what Private investment can do. This facility is a multi purpose terminal.
They receive fertilisers, events and others. We are also receiving containerized cargoes. Meaning that you have ships that are container specific. This is how to grow the Maritime and port industry by getting people from private sector to invest. This is a good example of where this can lead us and take us to. It can take the industry to a more advanced level so that we can compete with our neighbouring countries.
“There is nothing they are doing that is out of the world.
It is just investment. So the NPA as an institution, we are going to create or add to what we are doing to attract this private sector investors. The NPA boss, however, promised that the authority would ensure protection and safe working environment for the private investments to operate.
He said: “We are going to be more accommodating, we are going to be more encouraging to them so that they can come and invest, so we can say Nigeria is really leading the West and Central Africa in this sector.
We are calling on all stakeholders to be with us in this struggle so that by the end of the day, Nigeria will claim its rightful position in the Maritime and Ports industry in Africa.” Dantsoho further revealed that target of the federal government is to enlarge the capacity of the maritime sector of the country, stressing that the government is concerned about the growth of the sector.