Enhancement of port operations, improved earnings my priority —Dantsoho, NPA MD

Abubakar Dantsoho, NPA MD

In his determination to turn things around and make a significant impact at the nation’s ports, the new Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has prioritised improved earnings and enhancement of port operations. To achieve his objective, he has announced the appointment of seven new port managers in the country.

The new Port Managers are Adebowale Lawal Ibrahim (Lagos Port Complex, Apapa); Abubakar Sani Isa (Tin Can Island Port Complex); Abdulrahman Hussaini (Onne Port); and Sa’adu Dahiru Mohammed (Delta Port). Others are Emmanuel Anda (Lekki Port); Kenneth Edith Okezie (Rivers Port); and Ekine Ibifri Alex (Calabar Port).

While announcing their appointment last Friday in Lagos, he said his priority as the NPA MD was to ensure efficient and smooth operations at the ports as well as improved earnings. He said the Port Managers would drive the vision of the Authority to provide a safe, secure, and customer-friendly environment for port operations. They will also manage day-to-day port operations by delivering port services necessary for ship reception and departures while serving as a link between the Authority and shipping communities.

The Port Managers have also been charged with other responsibilities. They are expected to supervise the operations of Terminal Operators in line with the Standard Operating Procedures as contained in the Lease Agreement with the Nigerian Ports Authority. They will also administer the operations of the Export Processing Terminals (EPT) to actualize the overriding objectives of the renewed export orientation of the Federal Government.

They are to coordinate the logistics around the Port Corridor as well as interface with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to ensure seamless entry and exit of exports, imports, and empty containers from the ports. The Port Managers were also tasked to motivate employees to work effectively and efficiently to actualize the Ports’ Key Performance Indicators.

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Meanwhile, Dantsoho, who was Port Manager for Onne Port Complex from 2020 to 2021 where he spearheaded innovative investor-friendly initiatives, which were responsible for the year-on-year growth that has been recorded at Onne Port Complex, has said that the NPA would provide the support necessary to fast-track the automation of truck traffic for Onne before the end of this quarter.

Dr. Dantsoho gave the assurance when the Executive Team of Callup Technology Services Limited and Forge Concepts Limited, the operators of the electronic solution, paid a pre-implementation visit to the NPA Headquarters in Lagos. The NPA boss, who revealed his plans to implement the Electronic Callup System at the Onne Port Complex at the meeting, said the Federal Executive Council had already given the NPA the approval to embark on the project.

According to him, “In line with the directive of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, we are poised to provide the support necessary to fast-track the automation of truck traffic for Onne before the end of this quarter.

“We would ensure that the operators structure their Information Technology deployments in a manner that seamlessly plugs into the Port Community System (PCS) and the forthcoming National Single Window (NSW) while also emphasizing the sustainable use of alternative sources of energy.”

The Onne Port Complex is the largest Oil & Gas logistics base in West and Central Africa. It houses the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) and Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT), and has in recent times been recording unprecedented growth in vessel and cargo traffic.