The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority NPA Hadiza Bala Usman has said she would prefer to be honoured with awards after hard work and meritorious service to her fatherland.
The MD, who spoke in Lagos Friday while receiving a platinum award “as the Trail Blazer of Nigeria’s maritime industry” bestowed on her by Portgist on TV, an independent programme, said should would prefer a situation whereby awards would be bestowed on her after service and in recognition of her hard work.
“I believe in working hard first while awards should come after” She however pledged to continue to operate an open door policy at all times.
Said also hinted that she has learnt so much within the short time she has been in the port industry and that she appreciated the media for partnering the new NPA management and being able to project many of its programmes and and effectively to the public. She there charged the media to always cross check their facts before going to press in order to forestall publishing falsehoods that are capable of misleading the stakeholders and the general public.
She therefore admonished the maritime media to embrace investigative journalism, arguing that misinformation would not do any good to the industry.
The NPA-boss urged the maritime media to partner the authority to complement the efforts of the management in positioning the industry as a major player in the West and Central African sub-region and beyond.
“Collectively we are stronger, this industry is ours and Nigeria is our country therefore the success of the industry is for the betterment of all of us” she argued.
Editor-in-Chief of Portgist on TV, Dr. Kayode Farinto, had in an opening remarks, said that the MD remains a trail blazer who deserves to be celebrated especially considering her rich pedigree.
Farinto added that what the MD achieved would better be appreciated considering the region she comes, which makes it imperative for women to be respected and celebrated.
Executive Director in charge of Marine and Operations of the authority, Dr. Sekonte Davies, who was also at the event said that it was gratifying sharing in the glory of the Managing Director, insisting that she has indeed brought enduring changes to the port industry.
Meanwhile, chairman, Port Consultative Council PCC, Otunba Kunle Folarin, who also spoke at the event, praised the MD, saying she has developed into a professional of repute, who deserves laurels.
The PCC chairman urged the MD to continue to do her best and embrace due diligence in whatever she does, assuring that stakeholders would always appreciate her efforts.
In another development, the management of NPA has assured stakeholders in the maritime industry of its readiness to prioritise issues of operational, safety and security with a view to providing necessary support in this regards across the nation’s seaports.
This is in order to ensure efficient port services in line with international best practices.
The MD made this pledge while flagging off a fire drill which took place at the organisation’s Marina Lagos corporate headquarters.
According to her, these efforts are aimed at sensitising members of staff of the authority, the business community within and around the head office on the need to uphold the ethics of emergency response in the case of fire disaster and other safety and security concerns.
She however acknowledged the contributions of the organisation’s Health Safety and Environment HSE, division and its readiness towards securing lives.
“We have deployed two fire trucks and they have shown their knowledge at addressing fire. We are happy with their abilities, the hydraulic platforms are functional, and we have the capability at addressing fire at the NPA and beyond”, she said..
The General Manager Health, Safety and Environment HSE, Yusuf Ahmed had while speaking during the event stated that the sensitisation drill being the first of its kind was aimed at assessing the operational efficiency and readiness of personnel in cases of emergency.
According to him, there is a procedure of evacuating the workforce to Muster Points in case of fire outbreaks, which was being demonstrated by the drill.