Shipping Manifest

Terminal operators crucial to ports development, says NPA MD, Abdullahi

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi, has said that the organisation holds Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) in high esteem and will, therefore, do everything within its power to encourage and sustain the existing relationship between them.

According to a press statement signed by Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, NPA, Mr. Musa Iliya, Abdullahi stated this while receiving members of STOAN who paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos.

Abdullahi said that the new management of the NPA appreciates the support and cooperation STOAN gave past management of the organisation, urging the association to extend same to his administration.

According to the NPA boss, the Federal Government attaches great importance to the maritime industry, which, he said, was demonstrated at the recent maritime industry retreat at the Presidential Villa which was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Economic team.

He stressed the need for continuous dialogue between STOAN and the NPA, with a view to solving operational problems, rather than talking on the pages of newspapers.

Also speaking, the Chairperson of STOAN, Dr. Vicky Haastrup, congratulated Abdullahi and the NPA Executive Directors on their recent appointments, saying that the association will give the new management maximum cooperation in order to move the sector forward.

Haastrup, who is also the Executive Vice Chairman of ENL Consortium, remarked that the new management has started on a very good note, pointing out that Abdullahi is the first Managing Director of the NPA that deemed it appropriate to invite her association for a visit on assumption of office.

She noted that the Federal Government is exploiting alternative sources of revenue, besides oil, in view of the fact that some African countries have now discovered oil and that government focus is presently on the maritime sector, considering its huge potentials.

She further pointed out that Abdullahi is an experienced port administrator, who was one of those that worked for the success of the ports concession programme.

Asserting that terminal operators are committed to the ideals of ports reforms, Haastrup explained that one of the reasons for forming STOAN is to ensure that government realises the benefits of the ports concession programme to the nation’s economy by complying with the terms of the concession agreement.

Others on the STOAN delegation during the visit include Managing Director of Five Star Logistics Limited, Mr. Joachim Theurkauf; Chairman of Tin Can Island Container Limited, Mr. Yehuda Kotik; Managing Director of Grimaldi Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ascanio Russo; General Manager of ENL Consortium, Mr. Mark Walsh; and Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr. Dallas Hampton.