New NPA MD strives for improved revenue generation

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, has said that under her leadership, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) will strive for enhanced operating efficiencies to facilitate improved revenue generation and inflows into the national treasury.

Usman, who recently became the NPA managing director, said this at the handover ceremony to the new management team in Lagos on Monday, in which she was officially handed the reins of the port.

According to her, since the national ports are critical artery of the economy, operators henceforth “will deliver port services at the standards that our businesses deserve in the 21st century in supporting President Buhari’s administration agenda of economic diversity.”

Usman promised that under the new management, the NPA would “strive for enhanced operating efficiencies to facilitate improved revenue generation and inflows into the national treasury.

“Today, I assume with humility the responsibility of leading the NPA team. As you all know, the country expects much from us all. We will listen to our customers, importers, exporters and other agencies working in the ports to improve on our service delivery to the nation, anything less than world-class services is simply not acceptable; attaining such heights is a mission to which I am certain we can all subscribe to.”

She said that as a team leader, she was on board to add her efforts to the port works “so that we can collectively achieve results for our industry. We must work as a team, pursuing common goals with professionalism and diligence.

“We shall prioritise investment in primary equipment and infrastructure and services committed to by NPA in the concession agreements to hasten clearance of imports and exports from the ports. As we collaborate in the best traditions of public service, I believe that with commitment and diligence our hard work can position NPA as a model agency.”

To function as effective regulators, she charged all workers at the NPA commit to the highest standards of performance and cohesion, while asking that the team members “uphold the most diligent work ethic, in our individual beats as well as in the collective undertakings required to achieve results.”

“Everyone at the NPA has a role in promoting best practice, in upholding governance standards and in delivering quality services. We will work hard, with integrity and with zero-tolerance for corruption.

“As the new management settles down, we will be listening to your concerns and suggestions as we navigate the best options for effectively discharging the NPA’s mandate. But we will not shirk our responsibility to provide the leadership to improve the NPA. I hope that we will do it together.”