Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi, has called on Belgium to explore more areas of cooperation especially in the shipping sector in Nigeria.
Abdullahi made this call in Lagos on Wednesday while receiving the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Diru Verheyen who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
He said the port reforms programme embarked upon by the federal government some years ago has opened many investment opportunities for investors and urged the Belgium government to explore areas in the maritime industry that the country can invest in.
He informed the Ambassador that deep sea ports are being developed in Lekki and Badagry (both in Lagos State), Ibaka in Akwa Ibom State and Olokola along Ogun/Ondo States maritime boundary, adding that all ports in Nigeria are under the control of NPA.
He said NPA will continue to seek the support of the Port of Antwerp in the area of capacity building and manpower development.
While appreciating the existing mutual relationship between the organisation and the Port of Antwerp, Abdullahi said he was very happy that the Belgium Commercial Mission will soon visit Nigeria; a move which he said will further boost the economic relations between both countries.
Earlier, Ambassador Verheyen had told his host that the Belgium Commercial Mission’s visit to Nigeria this year is coming about 12 years after the last one. He said the visit open a new chapter in the training and investment needs of both countries.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.