Terminal operator harps on safety at seaports

The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of ENL Consortium, Princess Vicky Haastrup, has stressed the need for port operators and dockworkers to remain safe and guard against the spread of COVID-19.

Haastrup made this call when ENL Consortium, operators of Terminals C and D of the Lagos Port Complex Apapa, donated nose masks and other protective items to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in support of governments to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The items donated include 3,000 units of nose masks; 1,000 units of hand gloves; 1,000 hand sanitizers and infrared thermometers. Haastrup, who was represented by the company’s Executive Director, Mark Walsh, said the gesture was in line with the company’s Cooperate Social Responsibility initiative and in support of the efforts of the Federal Government to contain the spread of the deadly virus in Nigeria.

Haastrup said the safety of port workers and port users remain a key priority for ENL Consortium. She said: “COVID-19 is a problem all over the world, not just in Nigeria. What we are doing with this donation is to back NPA with what we have because we know that NPA is working on behalf of the Federal Government. So, this is to support NPA and the Federal Government to make sure we get through this period.

“Without the port community working, we don’t have any work either. So for us, it is very important that we support the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Federal and Lagos State Governments and do what we can to provide support to this community. We all need the items to keep everybody safe at the port,” she said.

Haastrup said ENL Consortium has ensured continuity of operations at its terminals in order to ensure that the supply chain is not disrupted in line with the directive of the Federal Government.

The Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, Mrs Fumilayo Olotu, who received the items on behalf of the NPA management, expressed appreciation to ENL Consortium for the donation, saying this would go a long way in supporting NPA and the Federal Government’s efforts in the fight against the Coronavirus disease at the nation’s seaports.

She said: “We thank you for your collaboration with us and for sharing in the Federal Government’s commitment in fighting COVID-19. The items donated are relevant to the fight against COVID-19, especially the thermometer because we keep checking people coming into the port to make sure that anybody that is above the normal temperature is isolated and presented for further protocols.

“The protocol in place is such that all of us should be part of, including regular hand washing and social distancing. We hope that in the nearest few weeks, Nigeria would have a wonderful story to tell on how we managed the situation.” Olotu assured that some of the items would be given to sister agencies at the port including the Port Authority Police Command, and Port Health Services.