The Acting Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko said the control tower at the Lagos Port Complex Apapa has been rehabilitated and upgraded.
Speaking at the port during a facility tour on Monday, Bello-Koko said it had become expedient for port facilities to be upgraded so as to impact positively on port efficiency.
“We aspire to be competitors in the sub-region. One of the ways to achieve this is by ensuring our facilities such as the control towers are up to date and upgraded to work with modern communication and radar systems.
“This would improve communication, reduce ship waiting time and further reduce the cost of doing business at our ports,” he said.
Bello-Koko assured marine pilots employed by NPA of enhanced welfare, stating that premium will be placed on their comfort.
He said matters concerning pilots’ accommodation, medical care and recreational facilities at the rehabilitated nine-storey control towers are “world- class with the provision of facilities such as sleeping quarters, gym, canteens, kitchens and meeting/conference rooms for the pilots and other harbours staff”.
He also said that the control tower at the Tin Can Island Port was also being upgraded to provide effective communication with ships using the VHF frequency.
The NPA boss allayed the fears of stakeholders over insinuations that the activities of hoodlums at the Tin Can Island Port may negatively affect the progress recorded through the truck electronic call-up system introduced in February.
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