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Tag: NPA

  • Port terminals concession: NPA concludes lease renewal, awaits FG’s approval

    Port terminals concession: NPA concludes lease renewal, awaits FG’s approval

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it has concluded the renewal of concession agreement with five terminal operators after the expiration of their leases.

    The Managing Director of NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, noted that the agreement would be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Transportation for final approval before the close of work on Oct. 4.

    Bello-Koko said this during the visit of the Minister of Transportation, Mr Mu’azu Sambo, who conducted a familiarisation tour of the agency on Friday in Lagos.

    He, however, said discussion among some terminal operators were inconclusive, while others were yet to give necessary feedback to the authority.

    The NPA helmsman lamented the 100 per cent physical examination of cargoes at the nation’s seaports, saying it affected efficient cargo inspection, and that manual cargo examination was cumbersome and inefficient.

    Bello-Koko noted that the terminal operators had expressed the desire to purchase and maintain scanners at the Nigerian seaports, while Customs would operate it.

    “If scanners are provided, it will make Nigerian seaports more competitive and the preferred destinations for cargoes in West and Central Africa.

    “Manual examination of cargoes in our ports due to the absence of scanners is inefficient, not sustainable, cumbersome and can’t make our ports competitive.

    “Terminal operators have, however, expressed readiness to purchase and maintain the scanners but the equipment will be maintained by the service and this will make our ports efficient in the sub-region,” he said.

    The NPA MD, in his presentation to the minister, said the nation’s seaports needed to explore alternative sources of power generation to the seaport because of the rising cost of power.

    He also called for the reconstruction of the collapsed quay apron at the Tin-Can Island port and collapsed jetty at Continental Shipyard.

    “Some matters requiring urgent attention include the reconstruction of the quay apron at Tin Can Island Port complex and collapsed jetty at Continental Shipyard Ltd.

    “Also, the reconstruction of collapsed berth at Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT) and fencing of common user port facility in line with the specification of International Ships and Ports Facility (ISPS), code.

    “Also, reconstruction of collapsed breakwater at delta port and rising cost of power generation (electricity) in the port and the need to commence procurement of alternative source of power,” he said.

    Responding, Sambo said there were so many issues that the NPA needed to handle, urging the management to priortise and come out with short, medium and long time term goals.

    “For the medium and long term, they can lay the foundation and let people that will come after them to conclude.

    “The most immediate burning issue for me is evacuation of cargo at the Lekki Deep Seaport.

    “We have been talking about encouraging moving cargo by barges, this is the time we walk the talk.

    “Happily it is NPA that licenses barge operations; so if they are satisfied with the barges that they license, they should encourage them,” he said.

  • NPA: Truckers to protest against extortion on Oct 4th and 6th

    NPA: Truckers to protest against extortion on Oct 4th and 6th

    Following extortion of truckers on Nigerian roads, truckers, under the auspices of the Committee of Maritime Truck Unions and Association, have written to the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, on their plans to embark on a peaceful protest between October 4th and 6th.

    This was contained in a letter by the National President of COMTUA, Adeyinka Aroyewun, addressed to the Managing Director, NPA, Muhammad Bello-Koko, titled, ‘Notice of intention to protest against military trucks taking over the return of empty container and priority trucks’ seen by The Punch at the weekend.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the letter was also copied to the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo; the Inspection General of Police, Alkali Usman; and the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, amongst others.

    Aroyewun said that the move became necessary due to the failure of NPA to address the issues raised in their previous letters

    The letter read in part, “I wish to notify you by this medium the intention of our association to embark on a peaceful protest within and around the port corridor and the office of the governor of Lagos state between Tuesday 4th and 6th of October 2022.”

    “This became necessary as a result of the failure of your office to address the following issues raised in our previous letters.”

    NPA: Truckers to protest against extortion on Oct 4th and 6th

    The association also complained that preferences were given to military trucks involved in the return of empty containers.

    “There are preferences given to military trucks involved in the return of empty containers to the port. There is also the admission of some trucks into pregates, thereby giving such trucks an advantage over our members.”

    The statement further said the high cost of call-up was another problem facing the group.

    “There are also the high cost of call-up and the Illegal deduction from our wallet in the name of demurrage by Truck Transit Park. The expansion of garages for favoritism by your management and TTP is also a problem. Harassment of truckers by law enforcement agencies and many more is also going on.”

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that earlier the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) effected some changes at the upper rank of the organization.

  • Buhari approves Lekki Deep Seaport for commercial operations

    Buhari approves Lekki Deep Seaport for commercial operations

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the designation of Lekki Deep Seaport as a Customs Port and Approved Wharf.

    This was disclosed through the official Twitter handle of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Friday.

    According to the statement on their Twitter handle, they wrote, “the Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Bello-Kokoin, in a letter through the Ministry of Transportation, secured the approval for the port to be gazetted in line with extant laws.

    With the approval and level of preparedness, the port is set for berthing commercial vessels before year-end.”

  • Calabar Port complex receives 72 vessels within 5 months

    The Calabar Port Manager, Mr Festus Olumati, on Saturday said that the vessel traffic at the port complex between the months of January and May was 72.

    Olumati gave the figure during the visit of the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, to the Calabar Port.

    The port manager said that between January and May 2022, vessel traffic into Calabar Port recorded high returns with a huge corresponding increase in the revenue of the authority.

    “Within the period under review, the Gross Register Tonnage (GRT) is 1,611,441 and cargo throughput of 990,154.

    “Cargo turn around time is four days per ship, with 16 container 24-foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs) and 15 per cent berth occupancy.

    “From January to May 2022, our revenue growth earnings increased as follows: revenue generated in dollars, $6.6 million, while the actual revenue in dollars collected was $5.8 million.

    “The revenue generated in naira is N646 million and the revenue collected in naira is N309.2 million,” he said.

    Olumati stated that the Calabar Port Complex had been reconnected to the national grid, as the management had resolved the frosty relationship between the NPA, Calabar Port Complex and the Calabar Electricity Distribution Company (CEDC).

    He said that despite huge improvements, the Calabar Port was still faced with some growing challenges impeding its attainment of her full capacity as one of the fastest-growing ports in Nigeria.

    He listed some of the challenges to include: Low depth of the Calabar Port water channel, which required full dredging, collapsed berth at the shoreline jetty, abandonment of Delta Queen Rig since 2012 and others.

    Responding, Bello-Koko said that he would ensure that the berth occupancy, which stood at 15 per cent, be improved.

    With regard to the issue of light and encroachment on the port land, he urged the port manager to ensure that whatever had been collected back be put to proper use, to avoid encroachment.

    He congratulated the staff for the berthing of a vessel at the port, noting that it was a big feat, and also appreciated them for attaining the ISO certification.

    “I hope we get to see that we don’t celebrate this after another year or month. Management will work with you to ensure that it becomes a new normal in the port.

    “Dear colleagues, it gives me pleasure to physically engage with you today.

    “As you must have noticed from my several correspondences through email, we are committed to openness of communication between management and staff.

    “Your opinion and idea matter to us and as such, we will appreciate constructive feedback from you through appropriate channels.

    “The task of ensuring that our strategic intent to be the maritime hub for sustainable port services in Africa goes beyond mere rhetorics, it’s a collective one.

    “This is why I expect that all hands should be on deck,” he said.

    Bello-Koko stated that all hands being on deck would ensure not only to meet, but to also surpass stakeholders’ expectations and add greater value to the national economy.

    Newsmen reports that the Calabar Port Complex stands on the threshold of about 45 nautical miles, which is approximately 83 kilometers, comprising the Old Port, the New Port and the Dockyard.

    Currently, Calabar Port is operated by three world class Terminal Operators namely: ECM Terminal Ltd., INTELS Nigeria Ltd. and Shoreline Logistics Nigeria Ltd.

  • First vessel berths at Lekki deep seaport

    Three Ship-to-Shore cranes and 10 Rubber-Tyred Gantries critical to the commencement of operations of the 1.5 billon Lekki Deep Seaport arrived in Nigeria on Friday.

    According to reports, operations at the Deep Seaport are expected to commence in September.

    Their arrival, according to Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), represents a major step toward birthing Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport.

    “It also demonstrates our readiness to take trade facilitation a notch higher,” Bello-Koko said in a speech at the event he described as “epoch-making”.

    He said that the commitment of the NPA toward providing every support necessary to place Nigeria on the global list of countries with Deep Seaports was unflinching.

    “This is why matters related to the operationalisation of Lekki Deep Seaport before the end of this year have been placed on top priority,” he declared.

    The NPA helmsman thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Transportation for the tremendous backing the authority had enjoyed leading to the arrival of the vessel

    “For us at the NPA, the coming on stream of Lekki Deep Sea Port symbolises a lot of positives. Apart from being Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport, Lekki Port will also be the first fully automated port at take-off.

    “This provides an insight into the path we are already toeing as a management team to govern the operationalisation of not just the forthcoming Badagry, Ibom and Bonny Deep Seaports, but also of the reconstruction of the aged Tin-Can Port, where work will commence immediately the transport ministry and FEC approve.”

    He said that automation remained the most veritable tool for assuring port efficiency.

    “As most of us are aware, the NPA is working assiduously under the technical guidance of the International Maritime Organization to deploy the Port Community System which will enable us respond squarely to the dictates of global trade facilitation and optimise the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement to which Nigeria is signatory.

    “Our strategic intent of becoming the maritime logistics hub for sustainable ports services in Africa rests heavily on how well we are able to deepen our efficiencies through a construction of deep seaports in order to leverage the concomitant benefits of economies of scale.”

    Bello-Koko congratulated all stakeholders on the milestone and prayed for greater strides as the nation pushes toward trade facilitation.

    The vessels came from Hong Kong.

    Earlier, Chairman of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, Mr Abiodun Dabiri, had said that the arrival of the vessel was historic as it would begin to deliver Nigeria as a regional hub for maritime business.

    “Now, the vessel we just received is carrying some major cranes and those cranes will enhance the transformation business of the deep sea port.

    “The draft of the depth of this sea is about 16.5 meters and the vessel itself can only take about 14.5 meters; the implication of this is that there is no where else in this country that this vessel can berth and that is what makes it historic.

    “So, in terms of efficiency, when you talk of STS crane, it means ship to shore which is devoid of manhandling; it will just be automated.

    “It is going to be fully automated; it will transform the maritime business and make Nigeria a regional hub,” he said.

    NAN

  • 2023: Northern group appeals to Buhari to zone presidency to South

    The Northern Progressive Agenda (NPA) has appealed to the political elites in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the presidency to the South.

    The appeal was made known by the  spokesperson of the group, Mr. Dominic Alancha at a press conference held in Abuja on Friday.

    Alancha posited that the North as a whole must not display the sense of ingratitude which is not one of the traits of an average person from the North.

    He appealed to the Northerners to look in the direction of the South ahead of the All Progressive Congress (APC) primary election billed to hold between 6th and 8th of June at the Eagle square in Abuja.

     

    The group noted that while it recognized the call for the northern region to produce the presidential candidate of the APC, it was important to put into consideration, the spirit of nationhood and the need for fairness, justice, and equity especially considering that the incumbent president who would have spent eight years on the saddle is of the northern extraction.

    It added that the North must not allow its greed for power to cause unwarranted and irredeemable reputational damage in the eyes of other Nigerians.

    The group said some persons have clamoured for the APC presidential candidate to emerge from the northern region, while some others have maintained that it was the turn of the southern region to produce the president.

    It stressed that these agitations exist despite the fact that the sitting president is of the northern extraction and also that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has produced its presidential flag bearer from the north.

    The group pointed out that if being at the helm of affairs for two consecutive terms was not enough reason to consider supporting the southern region for a similar opportunity, then a look at how the north has fared with the years of political power in its hand would be another way to look at it.

    It said while one would expect that this tilt of power should have resulted in the drastic if not complete turnaround of the fortunes of the northern region, the reverse was sadly the case.

    It noted when former President Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to put an end to the political career of his vice, who incidentally is the presidential candidate of the PDP today, it was the south that gave him a lifeline by offering him the ticket of the then Action Congress to contest for the number one seat in the country.

    The group emphasised that it was the south that offered the north in the person of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, a presidential ticket, after the failure of the first merger plan between the Congress for Progressives Change and the Action Congress of Nigeria.

    It stated: “It was the same south, following the merger that produced the All Progressives Congress that supported President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner to clinch the ticket, win the presidential election and is now running out his second term.

    “The Northern Progressive Agenda (NPA) therefore calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to reciprocate the gestures of the south of which he is a great beneficiary by refusing to listen to the call for the north to retain power.

    “We also call on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, political elites from the north, especially the governors and delegates alike, to show good faith by ensuring that power shifts to the southern region. We must not allow our greed for power to cause us unwarranted and irredeemable reputational damage in the eyes of other Nigerians.”

  • NPA redeploys senior officials

    NPA redeploys senior officials

    The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has effected some changes at the upper rank of the organisation.

    Mr Ibrahim Nasiru, General Manager, Corporate and strategic communications, NPA, made this known to newsmen in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

    Naziru said the changes were in furtherance to its goal to reposition the country’s port system as the preferred cargo destination in Africa.

    According to him, Mrs Madubuike Ugo, General Manager Monitoring and Regulatory Services, is the General Manager Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

    Naziru said: “Mrs Williams Idowu, General Manager Public Private Partnerships (PPP), takes over as General Manager Monitoring and Regulatory Services.

    “Mr Ajibola Olagoke, General Manager Administration is now General Manager Superannuation; Mrs Moltok Adar, General Manager Servicom, moves to Administration, whilst Mr Musa Yaro, General Manager Procurement, now heads the Servicom Unit.

    “Mrs Anthonia Ohagwa, General Manager ICT, moves to Tariff and Billing, while Mr Anthony Edosomwan now heads the ICT Department.”

    He said that Mr Mohammed Shehu, General Manager Tariff and Billing, now the General Manager Procurement, while Khadijat Sheidu-Shabi had been re-designated General Manager, Managing Director’s Office/TA Administration.

    Nasiru also said that Abubakar Umar, Assistant General Manager, Audit (Policy and Compliance), currently heads Finance and Investment Department.

    He stated that Mr Felix Bassey, Assistant General Manager HR Operations, would now be reporting to the General Manager Administration as Assistant General Manager Administration.

    “Mrs Dairo Olufunke Assistant General Manager Performance Management is now Assistant General Manager HR Operations.

    “Mr Allen Bankole, Assistant General Manager, Electrical and Corrosion, is now to act as General Manager Engineering.

    “Zhimwan Audu, Assistant General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications (C&SC) reports to General Manager PPP as Assistant General Manager PPP (New Business).

    “Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar, Assistant General Manager Operations – TA to MD (Admin) moves to the Abuja Liaison Office as Assistant General Manager.

    “Mr Richard Terfa, Assistant General Manager PPP – TA to MD (Engineering) is now Assistant General Manager Facility Management,” Nasiru stated.

    He noted that Pella Naphtali Nafarda, Assistant General Manager Audit (Finance and Investments) was moved to Superannuation Department to head the investment portfolio.

    He said that Mr Abdul Sani, Assistant General Manager Engineering, currently deployed as Assistant General Manager Electrical and Corrosion.

    Nasiru said that Okeke Angela Uche, Assistant General Manager Investment, would report to the General Manager Audit as Assistant General Manager Audit (Policy and Compliance).

    “Dantiye Zainab Magaji, Assistant General Manager Administration, reports to the General Manager HR as Assistant General Manager Performance Management.

    “Faturoti Adebanjo, Principal Manager Hydrography reports to General Manager Engineering to understudy the Assistant General Manager Hydrography,” he said.

    He said that two technical assistants (TAs) had also been appointed.

    “They are Abubakar Daniya, Senior Manager Accounts, now Executive/Personal Assistant to the Managing Director and Mr Sadiq Abubakar Lamuwa, Senior Manager Civil Engineering, now Technical Assistant (Engineering) to the Managing Director,” he said.

    Nasiru said that all appointments were with immediate effect.

  • 26 ships with petroleum products, others set to arrive Lagos ports

    26 ships with petroleum products, others set to arrive Lagos ports

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Wednesday said that 26 ships with petroleum products and other items were expected at the Lagos port from March 9 to March 22.

    It said in its daily Shipping Position that the other items include general cargo, frozen fish, container, bulk sugar, butane gas, bulk wheat, bulk urea, bulk gypsum, base oil, bulk soya and automobile gasoline.

    NPA said another four ships had arrived the ports waiting to berth with bulk sugar, bulk wheat and general cargo.

    It said that 18 other ships at the ports were discharging bulk wheat, general cargo, container, soya bean oil, bulk sugar, butane gas, bulk gypsum, bulk urea and petrol.

  • NPA designates Lilypond Terminal as non-oil export processing facility

    NPA designates Lilypond Terminal as non-oil export processing facility

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Thursday affirmed the designation of the Lilypond Container Terminal in Ijora, Lagos as a specialised processing and handling facility for the exportation of the country’s locally made finished agricultural goods.

    A statement by Ibrahim Nasiru, NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, quoted the Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, as explaining that the move would ease the bureaucratic and logistical bottlenecks faced by exporters, thereby promoting better access of the country’s non-oil exports into international markets.

    It said that the NPA helmsman made the pronouncement at the NPA’s Special Day celebration at the ongoing 43rd Kaduna International Trade Fair.

    According to him, the Lilypond Terminal will offer exporters a one-stop space to carry out their transactions at a reduced cost and time, thereby increasing their profit margin and competitiveness in the international market.

    He said that the fair’s 2022 theme: “Re-strategizing Nigerian Economy for Global Competitiveness” underscored the Federal Government’s agenda on the diversification of the economy away from reliance on hydrocarbons, by focusing on industrial development, especially local manufacturing and large scale food production.

    He said the NPA had initiated several strategies to maximise the movement of non-oil exports across the country’s borders.

    “We are currently in discussions with the terminal operators to give priority to exportation of agricultural produce and solid minerals, this will stimulate our domestic economy, create thousands of jobs and increase the revenue profile of government at all levels,” he posited.

    Belo-Koko further said that ‘’the Nigerian port industry remains a prime economic driver, bearing in mind that 85 per cent of the country’s trades are handled through the port.

    “Maritime transport remains the main gateway to the global marketplace. Ocean ports are a central and necessary component in facilitating trade among nations.”

    He pointed out that ports were catalysts for economic development as they enable trade and support supply chains.

    “Recognising our huge role as custodian of ports necessitates continuous participation at Trade Exhibitions like this, he stated.

    The NPA helmsman expressed the strong belief that Nigeria should be the hub of international trade in Africa, being the largest economy on the continent.

    “If we can harness those immense talents of our huge, enterprising, intelligent and determined youths, along with the vast array of natural resources we are endowed with, Nigeria will be among the first world countries in a decade”, he remarked.

    Sharing with his audience plans by the Authority to position Nigerian seaports as the preferred destination of cargo in the region, Bello-Koko said that the NPA had led the campaign for the actualisation of the Lekki Deep Seaport, which had reached 81 percent completion stage.

    He disclosed that operations at the new port is expected to commence in the last quarter of the year.

    “The Lekki Deep Seaport is designed to be the deepest port in West Africa and will be a significant game-changer in Nigeria’s maritime economy. This multi-purpose port is expected to generate more than 170,000 direct and indirect jobs when completed.

    “To encourage quick and easy processing of imports, the Authority has begun the implementation of the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) in conjunction with sister agencies, to engender transparency, efficiency and reduce the cost of doing business at the port.

    “The manual outlines the harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of Agencies operating in the maritime industry.”

    Bello-Koko emphasised that NPPM would foster a very conducive environment for port users, streamline inspection and examination of cargo, check exploitation and corrupt tendencies by service providers, among other benefits.

    He commended the organisers of the fair for putting up another successful event.

    “I am highly excited that Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (KADCCIMA) has continued to provide the platform for entrepreneurs to network and thrive,” he said.

    He charged the Kaduna Chambers of Commerce and Industry to brace up for the digital economy, while urging the Chamber to join in the campaign to market the economic benefits of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port (KIDP) to the business community.

    “The dry port facility will help bring shipping services closer to business owners and residents of Kaduna, as it can handle both import and export cargoes,” he added.

    In his welcome remarks, President of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Alhaji Suleiman Aliyu, described NPA as the artery of the nation’s economy, in view of its strategic role in trade facilitation and providing access for businesses to thrive across International borders.

    He acknowledged that Nigeria recently signed an agreement that would enhance the flow of goods between Nigeria and Chad.

    Aliyu, represented by Surveyor Ishaya Idi, Vice President of the Chamber, commended the Authority for its steadfastness and contribution to the growth of the Chamber.

    He expressed his organisation’s desire to sustain the robust collaboration with the custodian of the nation’s gateway.

  • BREAKING: Buhari appoints Bello-Koko as substantive NPA MD

    BREAKING: Buhari appoints Bello-Koko as substantive NPA MD

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mohammed Bello Koko as the substantive Managing-Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    Mr Eric Ojiekwe, Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Transportation, announced this in a statement onTuesday.

    According to Ojiekwe, Koko’s appointment as head of NPA takes immediate effect.

    He noted that until his appointment, Koko was the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Authority