Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

NPA tasks commission on trade facilitation along land borders

By Moses Ebosele
03 March 2015   |   11:00 pm
THE Managing Director of NPA has enjoined members of Nigerian/Nigerien Joint Commission on Transit Cargo to come up with modalities on how to tackle identified threats to trade facilitation along land borders.    Speaking in Lagos when the commission paid him a courtesy visit, Abdullahi said there are many threats to trade facilitation along the…

Abdullahi-4-3-15

THE Managing Director of NPA has enjoined members of Nigerian/Nigerien Joint Commission on Transit Cargo to come up with modalities on how to tackle identified threats to trade facilitation along land borders.

   Speaking in Lagos when the commission paid him a courtesy visit, Abdullahi said there are many threats to trade facilitation along the Nigerian land borders.

He assured the commission of NPA’s support and cooperation as part of measures to encourage Nigerien business community to patronize Nigerian Ports

   The NPA boss expressed happiness about the activities of the Commission, especially in the area of facilitating trade relations between Nigeria and Niger, pointing out that both countries have a lot to benefit from each other on trade facilitation

He pledged to support the commission’s sensitization workshop scheduled to hold in  Abuja.

   Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Transport, Peter Utsu explained that the commission was constituted after a joint meeting between the Governments of Nigeria and Niger Republic, adding that the Nigerian Presidency gave the Commission marching orders to ensure that the interest of Nigerien business community in doing business through the Nigerian seaports is revived.

According to him, the Commission will organize a sensitization workshop in Abuja on its activities which will precede the arrival of Nigerien business delegation visit to Nigeria and the Nigerian Ports this month.

   Meanwhile, inline with the Federal Government agenda to institute a gas revolution industrial park at Ogidigben, Delta State, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commenced negotiation with the management of NPA on modalities to adopt for a successful land reclamation exercise.

   The park, which is proposed to be Africa’s largest gas city is scheduled to comprise fertilizer, Methanol, Petrochemical and power plants with other support offices and residential facilities.

   Speaking during a meeting with the management of NPA, the Executive Director, Gas & Power of the NNPC, Dr. David Ige explained that the project will require a lot of land reclamation, adding that its success is dependent on ports and solicited adequate support and collaboration.

 Responding, NPA Managing Director, Habib Abdullahi, pledged the commitment of the management to look into the request of NNPC for land reclamation.

He explained that NPA would soon conclude consultation on the status of the Port and its mode of operation under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

  According to Abdullahi, the project is of  great interest to the nation, “considering the tremendous economic and social benefit that would be derived from it when it is successfully completed”.

  While assuring that the NPA would collaborate with the NNPC for the successful execution of the project, the NPA boss implored all those involved in  the project to fast track the process.

He commended the NNPC for its giant strides on the project, especially in the area of resolution of the conflicts among the communities where the project is to be sited

    Highlight of the meeting according to a press statement issued by Assistant General Manager (Public Affairs), Musa IIiya was a display of a video clip of project area “spanning through Ekpopo creek to Okpele communities in Escravos, very close to Gbaramatu, Delta State, with about two to three kilometers water front”.

NPA recently announced plans to  to assist in the training of Tug Masters for Nigerian Navy after concluding all required consultations.

   Speaking in Lagos when the Flagg Officer commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jonathan  Ango, paid him a courtesy visit,  Abdullahi also pledged to partner with the Navy in the area of security  along water channels

Abdullahi explained that assistance to the Navy is mutually beneficial to both parties, adding that the collaboration will further boost the contributions of the maritime industry to the nation’s economy.

He assured the Nigerian Navy of the Authority’s maximum cooperation and support  as part of measures  to curtail piracy and other maritime crimes in the nation’s waterways.

According to Abdullahi, though NPA is not the designated agency responsible for security at the nation’s ports, it has the responsibility for collaborating with the Nigerian Navy, Marine Police and other security agencies in order to ensure the safety of the channels for smooth navigation in compliance with International Ships and Ports Security [ISPS] Code.

Speaking earlier, Ango thanked the Managing Director for his assistance to the Nigerian Navy over the years, adding that he was at NPA on a courtesy visit as part of his familiarization tour of maritime agencies within the Western Naval Command.

 

0 Comments