The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said the agency has trained over three thousand of its staff on latest port operation around the world.
This was disclosed last Wednesday by the Managing Director of the agency, Mallam Habib Abdulahi while giving account of his two years stewardship as the Managing Director of the agency.
Habib said the training of over 3000 of its staff is the first time any administration in the agency would train a large number of staff locally and internationally.
He said, “This administration for the first time undertook a massive training plan both local and foreign that cut across every cadre of the workforce. In 2013 alone management trained 3,091 personnel out of the total work force of 4,245. This figure represents 90% of total workforce,” Habib declared.
The MD said the training for the staff had helped the management in achieving its mandate of transforming Nigerian ports to be the third best in Africa after the port of Algiers and Durban in South Africa.
“In the last two years and in line with the mandate given to us as well as the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) the present management embarked on programmes designed to improve efficiency of our operations part of which was training of our staff.
“All of you have been part of this significant milestone which has brought this very special and epoch making occasion.
“As you are aware, the major determinant of a good efficient and user-friendly port is hinged on vessel turn-around time, cargo dwell time, security of ships at berth, as well as safety of the channel.
“Apart from this, Nigerian ports were also in need of huge resources for rehabilitation and modernization of its infrastructure in order to meet the demand of stakeholders.”
The MD however, reassured stakeholders that his management was committed to the realization of the vision to make Nigerian ports the leading port in Africa.
“We shall continue at all times to remain focused on making our ports efficient and customer friendly.”
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.