The federal government says the $800 million needed to rehabilitate Nigeria’s ports is almost ready.
Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy,
spoke at the inauguration of seven patrol boats by the Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA) in Lagos on Thursday.
Mohammed Bello-Koko, NPA managing director, on February 18,
2023, had said the rehabilitation of Apapa, Tincan ports, and others would cost
$800 million.
During the inauguration, Oyetola commended NPA management
for taking the initiative to strengthen safety in the maritime space.
“Security is very
important and we need to give it the kind of attention it deserves. We cannot
be talking of trying to get the full potential of the blue economy without
strengthening the security aspect of our ports,” Oyetola said.
“Again, we are modernising the ports. We want to be able to
compete with any port in the world. We want to ensure that the vessel
turnaround time is reduced to four days as opposed to about six to 10 days that
we currently have.
“We must commend Mr President for taking the initiative of
creating the Ministry of Marine and blue economy and for supporting us all the
way.
“I can tell you that
the fund for the port rehabilitation is almost ready and we are going to
commence rehabilitation anytime from now.”
BOATS WILL IMPROVE
NIGERIAN PORTS’ EFFICIENCY
Oyetola said the commissioned boats are expected to improve
efficiency at the Nigerian ports.
The minister said the blue economy had always been there,
but not structured to generate the kind of revenue a maritime nation like
Nigeria should be earning.
“So, part of what we are trying to do is to first ensure
maritime security. Secondly, we will be talking of automation of the ports to
make it more efficient,” he said.
On his part, Bello-Koko said procurement of the seven
security patrol boats was preceded by a robust needs assessment process
undertaken by a highly experienced team.
Bello-Koko said they were drawn from the agency’s security
and marine operations divisions and the vessel management department, who were
painstaking and followed through with the product output specification
including necessary sea trials.
“Enhanced maritime safety, security and compliance to global
acceptable standards is one of Nigerian Ports Authority’s deliverables under
the presidential priorities of the federal government of Nigeria,” he said,
“What we are witnessing today, therefore, is pursuant to
achieving these deliverables and aligns with the presidential directives
regarding performance of MDAs.
“In addition to positioning us to fulfil the fundamental
requirement of security which constitutes a critical success factor in
fulfilling two crucial aspects of our post-concession statutory mandates.
“This is in order to
regulate maritime business and promote ports security and safe haven for ships
and safeguarding and securing assets of the Authority while maintaining their
optimal use.”
Bello-Koko said the deployment of the security patrol boats
shows the agency’s compliance with the dictates of the International Ship and
Port Facility Security (ISPS) code of the International Maritime Organisation.
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