Sam Ikeotuonye
21 November 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Dr. Nike Akande, has challenged the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, on the enthronement of better regulatory and operational environment that would guarantee ports efficiency across the country.
She made the charge at NPA’s special day during the recently held 2017 Lagos International Trade Fair organised by the chambers in Lagos.
According to Mrs. Akande, the ports were critical to the economic life of the nation, making it imperative for the NPA and other agencies managing the ports and maritime infrastructure to entrench better regulatory and operational environment.
“The ports are critical to the economic life of this country and this makes it imperative that agencies managing the nation’s ports and maritime infrastructure must continually work towards a better regulatory and operational environment that guarantees ports efficiency across the country.
“The issues around port operations are well known by the agencies concerned with port management in Nigeria and we acknowledge the efforts of government towards improving the efficiency of the ports,’’ she said.
In his speech, the chairman, Trade Promotion of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Sola Oyetayo, charged all stakeholders to ensure a total rejuvenation of policies in the area of 24-hour operations and 48-hour cargo clearance at the ports.
Earlier, the managing director of NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, had expressed the readiness of management at investing resources in the area of capacity building and efficient port system towards achieving growth for the nation’s economy.
Exhibitors at the 10-day event were drawn from local and international companies from China, Egypt, Japan, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the European Union.
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of a plaque of recognition to Ms. Usman for her contributions to the development of Nigerian maritime sector.