The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has commended the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMWCA) for continually serving as a multilateral organ for regional cooperation amongst ports in West and Central Africa and also as a vehicle for the actualization of the dreams of the African Union (AU) as well as the objectives of New Partnership for African’s Development (NEPAD).
Usman gave the commendation in her welcome address to the delegates of PMWCA Technical Committee Meeting holding in Lagos on Tuesday.
She also identified PMWCA as a channel for the attainment of regional integration through consensus building on issues of maritime development and a platform for the exchange of information and expertise for synergy in port operations, administration, legal framework, security and the safety of navigation within the Gulf of Guinea.
“Given the enormous potentials of the maritime sector on the continent and the significant role that Nigeria plays in the actualization of these potentials, the current management of the Nigerian Ports Authority is committed to supporting PMCWA as well as in the introduction innovations that would redirect the maritime industry in the continent to attain international best practices,” she said.
In his remarks, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, told the delegates that the Nigerian government is determined to turnaround the Nigerian economy, highlighting the strategic role Nigeria plays in ports development in the Gulf of Guinea and the sub-region.
The Minister, who was represented by Director Maritime Services, Umar Galadanchi, urged PMWCA to harness the enormous potentials of the maritime sector to the benefits of Nigeria and other members within the region.
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