The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA on Thursday holds its monitoring and compliance conference, in Lagos.
The conference, which was to assess the experience of compliance with concession agreement after eight years, was held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
While delivering the keynote address, Idris Umar, Minister of Transport who was represented by Hassan Bello, executive secretary, Nigeria Shippers Council, noted that the event came at a time when some of the rights of concession will be terminated in two years, which makes the evaluation of the concession a neccesity.
He stated that prior to the concession, the port was characterised by high charges, deficiency of law, obsolete equipment, leakage and high level of centralisation.
To address these, the federal government decided to introduce the reform to increase efficiency in port operations, to decrease the cost of port services, to promote competition and make the Nigerian port the hub of international trade and shipping in West and every part of Africa. “Concession has brought about increase in port, local and foreign investors and infrastructure,” he said.
He added that so far it can be said that the concession has had a positive impact on Ports.
Also speaking at the event, Vicky Hasstrup, executive vice chairman, ENL consortium Limited and Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, noted that within the last eight years of port concession, all ports have experienced a lot of positive changes and development.
She explained that terminal operators will continue to add value to the port system in Nigeria in order to enable it compete favourably with other ports of the world.
Hasstrup added that terminal operators have created comprehensive economic and infrastructural development, created jobs and promoted industrial harmony.
