FG approves eight agencies for ports

Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Sokonte Huttin Davies (left); Comptroller General Of Customs, Hameed Ali (middle) and Managing Director, NPA Hadiza Bala Usman, during the stakeholders meeting on the implementation of the Executive Order of the Federal Government on Port Operation at NPA, Western Ports in Apapa, Lagos.

The Federal Government has reviewed the number of agencies operating at the ports to eight, including the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).Principal Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ibrahim Nasiru, yesterday said that eight agencies had now been approved to operate inside the ports as against the seven earlier announced by the Managing Director, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, during the stakeholders’ meeting on the presidential executive order in Lagos.

Nasiru said: “The NPA hereby reiterates the subsistence of a 2011 presidential directive for the reduction of the number of agencies that are to operate and have physical representation at the ports to eight.

“The directive listed the eight approved agencies as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Port Health.”

“It also stated that while the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should remain at the ports, a methodology which would ensure that only relevant cargoes are inspected by the agency, should be worked out.

“Other agencies not mentioned in the list above should remain outside the port premises while the Authority develops standard procedures to facilitate their seamless operation,” he said.

Nasiru assured that the NPA remains committed to the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to improve the ease of doing business in the country, the implementation of the executive orders recently issued by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo as well as the improvement of conditions under which business is carried out in all ports.

He, therefore, solicited for kind support of all agencies and stakeholders in the maritime sector towards actualising the noble goal of making Nigeria a destination of choice for all legitimate businesses.

Meanwhile, Head, Public Affairs of NDLEA, Ofoyeju Mitchell, had in a statement quoted the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, to have affirmed that the agency has the presidential mandate to work at the seaports.

He said: “NDLEA has been cleared by the Presidency to work at the seaports. This official position must be respected by all ports’ agencies and stakeholders. Attempt to violate this directive shall be considered as a conspiracy to advance the nefarious activities of drug cartels to the detriment of our national security.”