Ag. MD, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko.

Nigerian students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students NANS, have commended the new management of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA led by the acting Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko over its new giant strides which have enhanced efficiency and customer satisfaction at the nation’s seaports.

The students observed that the astute and exemplary style of leadership of the new Managing Director, especially his robust multi-stakeholders’ engagement have repositioned the nation’s seaports towards emerging as the preferred port of destination for the Sub-Saharan Africa less than six months of assuming duty.

In a statement with reference no: NANS/2021/Vol.117B, dated October 22, 2021, entitled: “The Paradigm Shift at Nigerian Ports Authority: NANS commends new leadership”, signed by the President of the association, Comrade Asefon Sunday and copy made available to our Correspondent, the apex students’ body in Nigeria, noted that due to this astute leadership, the erstwhile intractable gridlock that characterised Apapa and other streets around the seaports in Lagos has been eliminated by more than 80per cent.

According to the President, this feat, which has also reduced the cost of haulage by more than 60per cent, was also partly due to the decision of the acting MD to deploy more infrastructure and reboot the operations of the Truck Electronic Call-Up system, also called the ‘Eto’ as well as the new policy that compelled shipping lines to create holding bays for empty containers. This policy also made it compulsory for container vessels that call at the nation’s seaports to take at least 80per cent of the number of containers they came with either from empties or export goods or both.

The statement, which also listed the ‘operation green’, through which the management cleared all illegal structures on port approaches in Apapa, noted that the introduction of dedicated truck parks for export products would in no small measure, boost Federal Government’s quest towards economic diversification by encouraging non-oil exports.

He therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action towards his confirmation as a substantive Managing Director to give him the much desired push and zeal to adopt more smart ways of improving port efficiency. The President also enjoined maritime stakeholders to give him their full support so as to enhance the fortunes of the port industry in the overall interest of the Nigerian nation and its citizens.

The statement reads in part: “After extensive review of the state of affairs at the nation’s port industry viz-a-vis the the renewed vigor for improved multi stakeholders engagement, efficient service delivery, enhanced port security and business friendly system in line with global bestpractice prevailing at the country’s maritime gateway, wish to solidly throw its weight and support behind the incumbent management of Nigerian Ports Authority under the able leadership of its acting Managing Director.

“It is obvious that NPA is fast becoming the leading port authority in the subregion due to astute and exemplary administrative and acoustic style of the new executive management led by Mohammed Bello- Koko. Beyond any preponderant doubt,NANS is convinced and has been able to verify from the key stakeholders that operations and service delivery at the nation’sports have never been this good in the last two decades or more.

“Having spent less than five months in office in acting capacity, Malam Bello-Koko has reversed the sagging image of the NPAinto the best well-managed public enterprise in the country presently. Under the Bello Koko administration, the much vilified electronic truck call-up system or”Eto”, has reduced the intractable Apapa gridlock by 80percent.

“The cost of transporting goods from and to the ports has fallen by over 50percent.Today, residents of Apapa need not hang with friends or sneak into their homes very late at night. Hundreds of new and indirect jobs have been created, which complements efforts by the Buhari government to take 100million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10years.

“We equally note with satisfaction other key interventions rolled out by the Bello-Koko led management such as:”Operation Green”to clean the port of illegal shanties, refuse and miscreants; establishment of dedicated export parks to support the economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government; seeking alternative funding sources to upgrade and expand ageing port infrastructure; humane, proactive and inclusive management of human and financial resources.

“The list of his achievements within such a short period is very impressive. NANS here by expresses satisfaction and confidence in the managerial acumen and competence of Malam Mohammed Bello-Koko to reclaim the past glory of the NPA .Having observed his actions and disposition to duty,we have no doubt that with a man like Bello-Koko as the substantive Managing Director of the NPA, Nigeria’s journey towards becoming the main gateway to the African economy is confirmed and assured.

“We call on industry stakeholders to rally round him as the right person to reposition the NPA in line with the vision and aspirations of all Nigerians. As history beckons on Mohammed Bello Koko We at NANS say aluta continua.”