Chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Tony Anenih, has promised rapid implementation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda at the highly-valued parastatal of the Ferderal Ministry of Transport.
Anenih made this pledge yesterday at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja during the inauguration of the new boards of NPA and that of the sister-parastatal, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
“We are aware of the responsibility of our appointment and we understand the pivotal roles that these agencies play in the Nigerian economy. While thanking Mr. President for considering us fit for these appointments, I wish to assure him, on behalf of my colleagues, that we will put in our best in the service of this nation”, Anenih stated.
Earlier in his address, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said that the appointment of the new board members has come at a time when the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration is being vigorously pursued.
Umar said that the maritime sector remains a key sector of the economy, which enormous potentials need to be further harnessed to meet the expectation of government.
He said: “It is in realisation of its contribution to the nation’s GDP (gross domestic product) and the numerous potentials that Mr. President decided to host a Maritime Sector Retreat in July 2012. The retreat provided a unique opportunity for stakeholders to identify and highlight challenges and offered suggestions on how to move the industry forward based on four key issues namely safety and security, local content and cabotage, ports and customs and revenue enhancement.
“These are the four modules upon which specific findings and recommendations were premised. Let me use this opportunity to inform you that the outcome of the Retreat is currently receiving necessary government attention. At the appropriate time and in no distant future, an approved Action Plan on the Implementation Strategy would be made public.”
Members of the new NPA Board include: Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; Messrs Hamza Dan Mahawi, Lekan Mustapha, Aminu Baba Danagundi and Austin Enyonnia Cosmos, as well as a representative of the Federal Ministry of Transport.
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