Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) will soon enter into a partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on economic activities that will be mutually beneficial to both Nigeria and the United States of America (USA).
Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, disclosed this in his office in Lagos when he received a USAID delegation recently.
Abdullahi told his guests that NPA, as gateway to the nation’s economy, plays an important role in the development of major sectors of the Nigerian economy and therefore will always seize any opportunity that will further enhance its capability.
He reportedly said that though the main operation of cargo handling and delivery has been handed over to concessionaires after the ports reforms, NPA still handles pilotage and towage services, dredging of the channels, laying of buoys, wrecks removal for safe navigation, provision of ports infrastructure and other common user facilities.
The ports of Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Onne, according to Abdullahi, are all under the control of NPA.
NPA Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Musa Ilya, quoted leader of the USAID delegation, Micheal Harvey, as saying they decided to visit NPA because “it recognises it as the heart of Nigeria which is needed as a partner to the (USAID).”
Ilya stated: “He said the Agency is willing to help the Authority in any capacity it deems appropriate. Other members of the USAID delegation include Deputy Director Economic Growth& Environment Office Mr. Skip Kissinger, Bath Mbamadu and Project Manager of USAID Imeh Okon while the NPA team comprises the Executive Director, Marine and Operation, Engineer David Omonibeke, Executive Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Arc. Mohammed Saleh, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Olumide Oduntan, General Manager New Ventures and Business Development, Mrs Ugo Madubuike Special Assistant to the Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Buhari, Asst. General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Musa Iliya.”
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