The newly appointed Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has called for the speedy rehabilitation of dilapidated port infrastructure across the nation as his topmost priority.
Dantsoho, said in a statement after an unscheduled visit to Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) on Wednesday in Lagos, gave the assurance to collaborate with port stakeholders to deliver efficient services at the nation’s seaports.
According to the NPA helmsman, adequate port infrastructure and robust collaboration with stakeholders will enable the nation’s seaports to attain improved revenue generation through efficiency and productivity.
Dantsoho reiterated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mandated the authority to deliver efficient port services and improved industry outcomes, adding that his management team was poised to do that as quickly as possible.
“With the kind of backing we have from the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola CON, I want to assure stakeholders that the much-talked-about reconstruction of Tin Can Ports Complex will move from rhetoric to action.
“Port competitiveness is dependent on sound infrastructure and NPA will deliver on that necessity as soon as possible to better service Nigeria’s domestic cargo needs and those of landlocked neighbouring nations,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dantsoho, who assumed the role with over 25 years of hands-on operational experience at the NPA.
He resumed duty on Monday, July 21, after a due handover by Mohammed Bello-Koko the former Managing Director of the authority.
Dantsoho, during the handover ceremony at the NPA’s Headquarters, Marina Lagos, expressed his deep appreciation to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity given to him to be the 29th Managing Director of NPA.
He promised to boost the authority’s revenue generation and port efficiency.
“As we match towards this great journey, I wish to state that our main goal is to reposition the Nigerian Ports Authority for increased productivity and greater efficiency for increased revenue generation.
“I am committed to ensuring that the Nigerian ports compete favourably with neighbouring ones, especially in the areas of operations.
“This will be achieved through the robust exhibition of the overall commitment and collaboration to achieving success,” Dantsoho said.
The managing director said that he was committed to improving the welfare of the workforce through the timely payment of emoluments, compensations, training and capacity development.
Dantsoho said that this would be for employees who added value in their areas of deployment.
The NPA boss promised to continue with the digital transformation of the authority and the Port Community system which were keyed to blocking leakages and corruption.
Dantsoho promised to explore ways of further improving port infrastructural renewal. (NAN)
