Minster of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has commissioned two tug boats – MT Musawa and MT Ikere-Ekiti – in line with government’s desire to sustain the ease of doing business at the nations sea ports.
Spokesman for Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Adams Jatto, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Friday.
Addressing stakeholders at the virtual unveiling ceremony in Lagos, Amaechi said that government was determined to stimulate greater operational efficiency at the nation’s sea ports, adding that the maritime sector was critical to the growth of the economy.
“Government is determined in developing the sector because it occupies a fundamental place in the actualisation of the economy recovery growth plan (ERGP) of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,” he said.
He added that plans had matured at linking all nations ports to rail network in order to facilitate trade across board.
He commended the management of NPA for its audacious efforts at repositioning the ports with a competitive edge.
Contributing, Chairman Board of Directors of the authority, Mr Akin Ricketts, said the commissioning of the tug boats marked another landmark in government quest to provide world class services at the nations seaports.
He said that all hands must be on deck in prioritising the critical sustenance of the sub sector as a great contributor to the growth of the national economy.
Ricketts solicited stakeholders support for synergy in the aspiration of moving the industry forward which should be the concern of all and sundry.
In her remarks, the Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, told stakeholders that management of the authority was committed to continuous upgrade of facilities and equipment so as to enhance greater service delivery and optimal performance.
She assured shippers of effective collaboration to enhance the nation’s shipping community’s standing in the comity of nations.
The NPA MD appreciated vast encouragement from the presidency, federal executive council and the minister of transportation while the management navigated through the dictates of repositioning the authority along lines of best practices.
“Let me thank President Buhari and every member of the federal executive council for their support in making this a reality.
“Likewise, I must express our gratitude to the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, for his unceasing encouragement toward improving operational efficiency at the ports,” she said.
