Sam Ikeotuonye
25 August 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — Members of the newly-reconstituted Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, Pilotage Districts Boards have recommended the urgent review of relevant sections on pilotage in the Ports Act of 1999, to reflect the current dynamics of the industry.
The board members, in a communique signed by 21 participants at the workshop, also resolved that the “NPA Marine Pilots Training Manual” be reviewed to ensure the proper and effective capacity for the agency’s trainee pilots.
A statement by I. A. Suwaid, assistant general manager, corporate and strategic communications at NPA, said these were part of the eleven-point communique adopted by the pilotage districts board members at the end of their two-days workshop, which took place in Abuja.
Other highlights of the communique, according to the statement, prioritised the the need to integrate the evaluation and appraisal of pilots in the authority’s human resources process as highlighted by a presentation from the human resources/operations division of the NPA.
According to the communique, the board called for the provision of adequate marine craft to other pilotage districts outside Lagos, to make them function optimally and further enhance safety of navigation and operational efficiency amidst greater efficient customer service delivery.
On the engagement of Escravos pilot to provide services in some segments of Delta port channel, the board stressed the importance of the certification of pilots and regulating their services in order to ensure safety in the nation’s maritime domain.
The board commended the NPA management for responding to the enforcement of Electronic Chart Display Information System, ECDIS, which will facilitate the training and equipment of the pilot.
Meanwhile, the managing director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, has charged members of the boards to see their appointments as a “call to serve the nation in the national interest”.
She implored them to use their professional skills and knowledge to improve pilotage services in the nation’s seaports within the areas of their jurisdiction.
The pilotage boards inaugurated were those of Lagos, Warri, Bonny/Port Harcourt and Calabar port, as provided for by the Port Act, with a life span of three years.
in his remarks at the inception of the workshop, the Executive Director Marine and Operations, Dr. Sokonte Davies, assured members of the Board that Management will render her maximum and an unflinching support to enhance the success of pilotage activities in all the districts.
Dr. Sokonte called on them to bring their wealth of experience and professional competence to bear on Port operations with a view to moving the Nigerian Maritime Industry and NPA in particular forward.
I. A. Suwaid
Asst. General Manager (Corporate & Strategic Communications)
For: General Manager (C&SC)
