NPA to procure patrol boats in 2017

• NPA to position Calabar Port for trade

Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is planning to procure additional patrol boats for water security in 2017

The Managing Director of the authority, Hadiza Usman said in Lagos that the procurement would be included in 2017 budget. She added that the management of the authority had discussed with the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure that we address those issues internally, adding that the NPA is procuring more patrol boats for the purpose.

Also, the NPA said that it had started resolving issues of dredging contracts with the Calabar Channel Management Company with aim of recommencing the controversial dredging of the Calabar Port, which the organization will work to position for trade in the Gulf of Guinea.

Usman disclosed that after a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos recently that it is a priority for her management to ensure speedy access to utilization of the Calabar Port.

Billions of naira has been sunk into the dredging of Calabar Port, now being handled by the Calabar Channel Management Company, a daughter of firm of the NPA born out of a joint venture.

The contract has been riddled by allegations of unwillingness of the mother company to release funds amidst litigations that have brought the contract to its knees.

Usman said, considering the important location of the port in the Gulf of Guinea, her management has begun resolution of the issues deterring the dredging contract and is looking at expanding the trade route within the Gulf of Guinea to make the Calabar Port fully utilized.

She said:“During my visit to Calabar Port, I had explained that one of one of the problems with the port is poor depth of the draught which we are already attending to by resolving the issue with the Calabar Channel Management Company and the dredging will proceed and we will have increased depth.

She noted: “That will be the priority consideration with access to utilization of the Calabar Port. But we will also looking to trade route within the Gulf of Guinea is expanded upon that will make the port of Calabar to be fully utilised.

“We are diversifying on our various modes of traffic. We are looking to prioritise the export of agric produce in our respective terminals and we would work on also the soild minerals prioritizing that in our terminals. We believe that there’s a need for NPA to look towards attracting more customers and clientele to the port.”