The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that it will continue to support the activities of its four pilotage districts to ensure their ultimate performance.
Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, who gave this assurance in Lagos last week said the organisation will also provide all the operational requirements of the pilotage districts within budgetary provisions.
While speaking in his office at the beginning of a meeting with the leadership of the four pilotage districts, he commended the contributions of the members, consisting mainly of master mariners, for their contributions to ensure enhanced performance of the various pilotage districts.
Abdullahi also noted the concern of the members on navigational safety of the nation’s channels, and reassured them that NPA will continue to place priority on the training and re-training of its pilots.
While emphasising the importance of the roles of pilots and Harbour Masters in the operations of NPA, Abdullahi appealed to members of the pilotage boards to always make positive suggestions on the marine functions of the organisation.
He said such suggestions would be gladly considered by the NPA management with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.
He said the ports authority will find it difficult to record appreciable progress without strong pilotage boards.
Earlier, the leader of the group, Capt. Abiodun Omoteso, had told the NPA helmsman that the members were concerned about the safety of the pilotage districts of the nation’s territorial waters.
He appealed to NPA management to strive to implement the communiqué of a recent retreat held by members of the pilotage districts at Uyo, Akwa Ibom, in view of the major issues discussed at the forum.
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