30th March, 2012
The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Omar Suleiman has called for a renewed synergy between the Authority and the Nigerian Navy on maritime security, especially in area of the detention of merchants vessels.
According to the managing director, the renewed cooperation in this particular area had become necessary in view of the negative impact of such detention on international trade and the nation’s desire to be a hub in the West African sub-region.
Suleiman who spoke in Lagos recently, when he received the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the West Naval Command, Rear Admiral Aminu Ikioda, noted that the demurrage incurred as a result of such detentions were usually passed to the consumers, by way of higher prices of goods in the nation.
Suleiman told the FOC the efforts of the Authority in the areas of channels expansion and the provision of mooring buoys along the channels.
He said that the Authority had made substantial progress in the expansion of channels to enable it accommodate bigger vessels in order to ensure navigational efficiency.
He also said that the organisation was also installing mooring buoys along the channels to ensure improved pilotage.
Suleiman, who commended the cordial relationship between the Authority and the Navy, noted that the two establishments had the common goal of developing the maritime potentials of the nation and reassured that the NPA would continue to support the service to ensure its greater success at all times.
Responding, the flag officer thanked the managing director for the Authority’s swift response to the service request for tugboats and other logistical support each time such requests were made.
Ikiode added that he was happy with the Authority on the issue of channel expansion and the provision of mooring buoys at the channels, pointing out that the efforts would go a long way in ensuring navigational safety in the nation’s channels.
While assuring that the Western Naval Command would continue to collaborate and cooperate with the Authority on maritime security, he said that the command would not hesitate to solicit for assistance from the organisation whenever the need arose.