By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has assured Nigerians, particularly the relevant industry stakeholders that the Authority would ensure a most efficient budgetary implementation in the current dispensation, in all ramifications.
Hadiza gave the assurance while addressing visiting members of the House of Representative Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways who visited the Corporate Headquarters of the NPA on oversight functions, pointing out her determination to pursue capacity development and adequate staff training, as bedrock for achieving increased efficiency, productivity and buoyant revenue.
The Managing Director who was represented by the NPA Executive Director Finance and Administration, Mohammed Bello Koko subsequently enlisted the support of the law makers, towards the rehabilitation of dilapidated ports’ infrastructure as well as the procurement of plants and equipment across the nation’s Seaports.
Zeroing on capacity building, Hadiza stated that the NPA would pay premium to staff training in line with best practices particularly concerning certification required for them to operate seamlessly and efficiently.
In his address, the Committee Chairman Honourable Dr. Patrick Asadu enjoined the NPA to keep the good work they are doing in the course of modernizing the Ports Industry; charging the Authority to prioritize critical areas of concern in its budget implementation even if the rest of the sections would be attended to generally.
He maintained that Government would not compromised on improved operational efficiency, urging the NPA Management to work towards greater revenue generation as the economic situation facing the country requires creative administrative management expertise in order for the living standard of Nigerians to appreciate once again.
“We are generally impress by the performance of the NPA and if there are other areas we want them to improve when they come for Budget Defence, these areas would be highlighted to them”.
The NPA according to Asadu, is a very important organisation and quite strategic to the realization of stronger economic growth in Nigeria. He therefore urged the organization to improve its savings especially in the face of the current realities in the country.
The Chairman was later accompanied by other members of the Committee, as they visited the office of the Lagos Channel Management Company, (LCM) and other areas of interests.