Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has set up a committee to review ports concession agreement with the terminal operators.
The committee according to the authority is to liaise with representatives of terminal operators with the view to reviewing existing concession agreement.
In a statement by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr A. Goje, “plans are in the offing to actualize this within the shortest possible time”.
The occasion was a stakeholders’ quarterly meeting between the NPA and the terminal operators, shipping companies at Apapa weekend when the Managing Director, Hadiza Usman informed the stakeholders of the development.
Usman had reiterated the commitment of management at ensuring that outstanding payments and dues meant for the NPA coffers by stakeholders are remitted as quickly as possible.
She assured NPA would provide an enabling environment for efficient Port services in view of the vital role the Maritime sub sector plays.
According to her, management has put in place a machinery at ensuring that there is a level playing field for Operators doing business in the sector using the Ports as it would ensure that rules guiding Port Operations are strictly adhered to the latter.
Usman frowned at the attitude of shipping companies and terminal operators who connive to litter the roads with empty containers under the guise of having a Holding bay. Sanctions she stressed would be meted to erring Organisations who refuse to obey rules guiding these directives after a One week window.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Port Manager Lagos Ports Complex [LPC] Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim informed the gathering that the meeting was a platform for NPA and its stakeholders to discuss the challenges facing operational efficiency.
Efforts she said were in top gear to continually provide succor through palliatives on the roads leading to the Ports in consonance with the Ease of Doing Business before permanent solutions are made by relevant agencies.