Seaport eviction: NPA backs down, re-admits NDLEA

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THE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has back-tracked on its earlier stance that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is among evicted agencies from the seaports, and has included the anti-narcotics agency in the list of seaports agencies, thereby bringing the list of the number of agencies that are to operate and have physical representation at the ports to eight.

It would be recalled that the NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman had earlier mentioned seven agencies during a stakeholders meeting held in Apapa last week, with NDLEA not among the list of approved seaport agencies.

In a statement signed by NPA’s Principal Manager, Public Affairs, Ibrahim Nasiru late on Monday evening, the agency stated that a directive communicated to the Managing Director of the NPA in a 26th October, 2011 memo from the Federal Ministry of Transportation, listed the eight approved agencies as: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Police; Department of State Security (DSS); Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Port Health.

It also added that while the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should remain at the ports, a methodology which would ensure that only relevant cargoes are inspected by the agency, should be worked out.

“Other agencies not mentioned in the list above should remain outside the port premises while the Authority develops standard procedures to facilitate their seamless operation.

“The NPA remains committed to the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to improve the ease of doing business in the country, the implementation of the Executive Orders recently issued by Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo as well as the improvement of conditions under which business is carried out in all ports across the country.

“We solicit for the kind support of all agencies and stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector towards actualising the noble goal of making Nigeria seaports a destination of choice for all legitimate port users,” the agency stated.