NPA Board inauguration: Amaechi harps on effective utilization of maritime sector

By Kingsley Agim

Nigeria's Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has tasked the newly inaugurated Chief Akin Ricketts-led Nigeria Ports Authority Board to re-calibrate the  maritime sector back to its place as the most viable contributor to the nation's economic development

Rt.Hon. Amaechi gave the charge during the inauguration of the nine-member NPA Board recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, held last thursday in his Office in Abuja -  the nation's capital.

The Transportation Minister, who stressed on the importance of putting the Board in "capable hands," further encouraged the Board members to make prudent use of the confidence reposed in them by the Buhari-led administration and contribute their quota to the country's economic improvement, especially in the Ports, most of which are been under utilized.

Responding on behalf of the Board, its Chairman, Chief Akin Ricketts, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve the nation, describing their appointment as "a rare privilege to contribute a quota to the development of our country in a strategic area of our national life which is the maritime industry."

Decrying concerns bedevilling water transportation in Nigeria, Chief Ricketts stated: "While the ports in the East are being grossly underutilized due to many factors, the efficiency of the ports in Lagos is hampered by inadequate evacuation corridors that lead to congestion on the road, which ultimately affects prompt service delivery."

“This is a challenge that we intend to confront head-on in conjunction with other stakeholders, with a view to ameliorating the sufferings of port users and ease business in the port, as envisaged by the Federal Government” he pointed out.

The composition of the Board has Chief Akin Ricketts as Chairman, while Mohammed Koko, Prof. Idris Abdulkadir and Onari Brown are Directors on the Board. Other members are Alhaji Ghazali Muhammed, Senator John Akpanuoedehe, Senator. Binta  Masi Garba, Alhaji Mustapha Aminu Dutse and Chief Abdulwahab Adeshina.
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