The Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonny Baxter (4th from left), Managing Director, NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho (5th from left), the UK National Hydrographer, Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh (6th from left) and the NPA Executive Director, Engineering & Technical Services, Ibrahim Abba Umar (7TH from left) and other officials of the UK Hydrographic Office UKHO, who paid a working visit to the Managing Director, who was joined by other senior management representatives of the Authority to receive the delegation..

The Federal Government of Nigeria as represented by the Managing Director/CEO, of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has pledged its commitment towards strengthening collaboration with the United Kingdom in order to boost the country’s port development and enhance navigational safety.

The NPA MD made the pledge when he played host to a UK delegation led by the UK Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonny Baxter, and the UK National Hydrographer, Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh, who were on a working visit to the Marina, Lagos headquarters of the NPA.

Dr. Dantsoho, who received the delegation in company of the NPA Executive Director, Engineering & Technical Services, further assured that the Authority was committed to deepening the longstanding ties between Nigeria and the UK.

It was gathered that discussions at the meeting centred on deepening the longstanding maritime partnership between Nigeria and the UK, especially in in terms of hydrography, navigational safety, port development and capacity building.

The NPA-boss highlighted some of the reforms programmes being carried out in the maritime industry, which include modernisation of port infrastructure and general rehabilitation of the seaports, under which huge investments have been made, channel improvements and infrastructural upgrades, which are aimed at boosting operational efficiency and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional maritime trade, among others.

Speaking during the visit, the UK delegation pledged the country’s commitment towards supporting Nigeria’s hydrographic development through technical cooperation, nautical charting, implementation of S-100 standards, digitalisation and professional training for NPA officials.