The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, has assured port users and other stakeholders in the maritime industry of the authority’s preparedness for any emergencies and disasters that may occur at any of the nation’s seaports.
Abdullahi said this while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness on a courtesy visit to the NPA in Lagos.
A statement signed by the NPA Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Musa Iliya, said the NPA boss was represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Mr. David Omonibeke.
Abdullahi said that the NPA’s Fire Service Department had become a reference point in Lagos State due to its swift response to distress calls from public and private agencies in the state, adding that this had attracted several commendations to the NPA.
The chairman of the committee, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, had earlier said that his committee was saddled with the constitutional responsibility of formulating pre-emptive policies on search and rescue operations in the maritime and air transport industries.
He added, “We are here to carry out an on-the- spot assessment of the fire and life-saving facilities within Nigerian ports. We want to ascertain if they are in line with International Maritime Organisation and International Standard Organisation standards.”
The visitors, in company with the NPA General Manager, Health Safety and Environment, Mr. T.O. Talabi, and the Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Wale Olayiwola, were later conducted round the ports in Lagos to see the emergency and disaster facilities.
Similar facilities at the Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company and MRS tank farms were also visited by the committee members, who were shown the sizes, numbers, operations of the facilities and live demonstrations by the fire officers.
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