TRANSPORT MINISTER AMEACHI INAUGURATES BOARD OF - NPA, NIMASA

TRANSPORT MINISTER AMEACHI INAUGURATES BOARD OF NPA, NIMASA,

- CHARGES BOARD ON PROFESSIONALISM AND HARMONY 

22nd May 2020 - Abuja

By: Jacob Ochulayi 

For @Info Times 

While inaugurating the governing board of two key Transport and Maritime agencies the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday in Abuja,

The Hon. Minister of Transportation Rt.Hon. Chibuike Ameachi charge members of the board to work in harmony and team spirit to promote security and professionalism in other to boost economic activities in the Maritime sector.

He noted that the duties of the board should be in areas of formulating policy and Ideas that will grow the sector while the management will be responsible for implementation,  such roles should not be in conflict but rather harmonusly coordinated he said.

The Minister while referring to the coronavirus pandemic and its resultant consequences on economic and human activities,  says "we are in unusual times but we can't afford to shut our seaports. The activities must continue so that the trade can take place and people can feed" he further directed the board members to fashion out ways on how to move forward with the issues of trade facilitation and seaport management.

Members of the NPA Board are as follows:

1. Chief Akin Ricketts   - Chairman                   
2.Muhhamed Koko - Executive Director                             
3.Prof. Idris Abdulkadir -Executive Director

4.Onari Brown - Executive Director                                   
5.Ghazali Muhammed  - Member

6.Sen. Binta Masi Garba  - is a Member

7. Alh. Mustapha Aminu Dutse   - Member         
8.Abdulwahab Adeshina   - Member                     

While those of NIMASA includes:

1.Hon. Asita          -   Chairman

2.Bashir Jamoh     -  Director General

3.Victor Ochei     -  Exec. Director (Cabotage)

4.Chudi Offordile - Exec. Director (Admin. & Finance)

5.Shehu Ahmed - Exec. Director (Operations)

6.Adekola Adefemi  - Member

7.Muhammed D. Abubakar - Member

8.Hassan Rasaq Mahmud   - Member

While responding on behalf of the members of NPA board the  Chairman Chief Akin Ricketts thanked president Mohammadu Buhari and the Hon. Minister for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity, he also mentioned some challenges like congestion of the Port, with the Eastern Port being underutilized and the inefficiency of the Lagos ports occasioned by inadequate evacuation corridor, Chief Akin assured that the board would work with all relevant stakeholders with the view to ameliorating the sufferings of Port user.

The minister further charged the NIMASA  Board members and disclosed his particular interest in making sure that the Deep Blue project which took the Federal Government about three years for approval succeeds, as it is geared towards addressing high incidences of kidnapping  at sea as well as boost the economic base of the country, the Minister noted.

Also responding no behalf of the NIMASA Board Members, the Chairman, Honourable Asita, express concern over the spate of insecurities in the Nigerian Maritime waterways, and assured that the Board will work assiduously to curtail the menace.

It may be recalled that the Board members of both agencies were appointed on February 10, 2020, but could not be immediately inaugurated due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.