A clarion call has gone to the staff of the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA) to optimize their contribution to the growth of the Organization in making use of vast potentials presented to them by their immediate environment in the discharge of their schedules.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman represented by the General Manager Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Ahmed Yusuf made this charge while addressing Stakeholders at an event marking World Environment Day 2017 with the theme “connecting people to nature” at Rock view Hotels, Apapa.
She charged participants at the event drawn from all of walks of life that this year’s event could not have come at a better time in view of the need to bridge the widening gap presently being faced by the inhabitants who have failed to understand the synergy that touches on the concepts ‘’ People and Nature’’
Usman further reiterated that the human environment needs to be properly understood in terms of the basic laws and regulations which needs to be strictly followed at all times by the inhabitants. In her words, ‘’ we are to take a critical look at our attitude to the environment and consciously care for it by willingly complying with environmental laws and standards, using friendly technologies and methods in our industrial processes and productions’’
In his address, the Executive Director Marine and Operations Dr. Sekonte Davies charged stakeholders at the One day event to assiduously come up with relevant laws and guidelines that would effectively assist in the growth of our environment. He was of the view that the expected changes in the environment can be achieved aside these relevant laws by the decision of the individuals in the environment to have a change in attitude in their ways of doing things. In his words ‘’ Doing the right things would always curb the waste of time and resources by relevant agencies of government towards achieving environmental growth’’
In his welcome address, the Chief host and the General Manager Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Yusuf Ahmed affirmed that the annual event is a day set aside by the United Nations to remind humanity that the earth was a single entity that needs to be taken care of with all intent and purposes.
Ahmed stated that the event which began in 1974 marked the beginning of the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment which initially took place in Stockholm in 1972. It witnessed the discussions on the connectivity as it relates to human interactions and the environment. It was agreed by participants that the challenges facing the environment brought by man had become a problem which needed to be resolved expeditiously through International Cooperation.
According to Ahmed, papers to be presented at this year’s event would attempt at exploring the environment and appreciate its beauty since it needs to be properly harnessed for the benefit of all. They would amongst others further adopt steps at protecting the environment from negative effects through the planting of forest trees , reducing the wastes at source , proper waste disposal and management and reducing all forms of pollution.
Management he affirmed would further ensure that its actions and those of its Stakeholders do not impact negatively on the environment through relevant national and International laws, regulations and conventions aimed at attaining a Port environment devoid of Pollution, oil Chemical spills and bio hazards.
Present at the event were the General Managers, Western Ports, Abiodun Gbadamosi, Marine and Operations, Joshua Asanga, Monitoring and Compliance Iheanacho Ebubeogu, New Business Development and Joint Ventures, Engr. T.O.S Talabi, Maintenance, Engr. A. A. Jatto, while Mrs Susana .N. Asagwara Director Marine and Environment, NIMASA and Nike Sobowale of African Circle.
Signed
Ibrahim Nasiru
Principal Manager, Public Affairs
For: General Manager, Public Affairs