Yemisi Izuora
The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has restated the resolve to recover monies owed by stakeholders.
The NPA Rivers Port Complex has revealed that stakeholders were yet to remit $42.3m and N600m into NPA’s accounts
This is coming as the Port disclosed that it generated $62.3million and N1.2Billion in 2017, compared to $57.6million and N772.4million recorded in 2016.
Details of the transactions revealed that out of the $62.3million generated in 2017 by the Port Complex, only $20.6million has been collected or paid.
On the other hand, out of the N1.2billion generated within the period, the management of the Port only got payment of N435.8million.
Worried by the development, the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman has vowed to put measures in place to recover all the outstanding payments.
Speaking during an interactive session with stakeholders in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Bala-Usman emphasized the need for all stakeholders to effect payment promptly.
Represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mohammed Bello-Koko, Bala-Usman disclosed that NPA will soon receive Ro-Ro Vessel at Rivers Port Complex.
Earlier in his address, the Port Manager, Rivers Port Complex, Alhaji Abubarkar Umar Said the Port has its own challenges ”such as lack of finger jetty at the dockyard, lack of operational Tug Boats, lack of Patrol Boats, lack of functional water hydrants at the quays, to mention but a few”.
Making reference to achievements, the port manager said: “The serene environment experienced by the stakeholders attracted more importers and increased Ship Traffic of the Port which led to more revenue generation.
“This also led to the move from the long standing International Ship and Facility Security (ISPS) Code level 2, to the current level 1 and we maintain a cordial relationship with the stakeholders. Management recently allocated two new security patrol vans to the Port.
“Other achievements include:- Responsive management, reduction in vessel turn-around time, improvement in revenue generation and collection, improvement in service delivery, and improved safety guidelines etc”.