From left: Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, explains some issues to the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello at the just concluded stakeholders’ forum organised by the Federal Ministry of Transport in Warri, Delta State.

FRANCIS EZEM

The Nigerian Ports Authority has urged stakeholders at the Onne Port in River State, especially security agencies on the need to fully comply with the Federal Government’s directive on promoting the ease of doing business at the nation’s seaports.

Manager of the Onne Ports Complex, Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar, who gave the charge in Onne recently while playing host to the new General Officer Commanding GOC, 6th Division Garrison, Port Harcourt of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier A. Bande, the new Comptroller of Immigration FLT, Mrs Chinwe Obi-Onyeakagbu, Director Department of State Service (DSS) South-South Zone, Mr M. B. Magaji and the Divisional Police Officer DPO Onne, Chief Superintend of Police, Yahaya Mana Usman who paid separate courtesy calls to his office.

He also charged the stakeholders in Onne Port, including the security agencies to to promote an effective inter-agency cooperation and collaboration to ensure the total success of the Presidential Order on the Ease of Doing Business Directive at the ports.

The PM noted that the security agencies at the ports should at all times be reminded of their respective roles of ensuring the security of life, goods and property within the ports and its environs.

He however commended the conduct of the security officers and men operating in the port. He also extolled the leadership of the heads of the agencies for their skills, competence and efforts, which he noted had ensured that the port remained safe for operations and business.

While enumerating some aspects of the Presidential Order on the Ease of Doing Business as it concerns the various agencies, Mallam Alhassan reiterated the fact that NPA and other respective agencies all have a stake to ensuring the objectives of the directives were realised.

He therefore appreciated the visitors for the courtesy call and expressed the hope that the visit would cement the existing cordial relationship between the Port and their agencies as well as establish workable synergy for better performance between them.

The GOC and the Comptroller of Immigration, who spoke during the visits, assured of the readiness of their commands to support all port activities and commended the existing relationship between the authority and their security organisations.

On their part, the DPO and the Director DSS also promised to work with the port management so as to enable them achieve safety, which is one of the Key Performance Indicators KPI, of the entire ports.