NPA Boss Seeks Joint Solution To Pollution

By Esther Komolafe

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr.  Omar Suleiman  has advocated a joint solution to the menace of pollution and environmental degradation  by countries  in the west and Central African sub region .

Omar, an engineer made the suggestion  at the 35th Annual Council Meeting and 11th Round Table Conference of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) which took place in Lagos recently.

The NPA boss told delegates at the conference that the Federal  the government had  dredged  Niger River for inland water transportation, just as it had removed critical  wrecks for safety of navigation, rehabilitated the moles in the Lagos Area and  improved maritime security.

He also hinted that the government had commenced massive investment in rail rehabilitation across the country.

“In Nigeria, the realisation that the private sector remains the engine for growth and the need for government to limit its roles to policy and the creation of an enabling environment, led to the reform of our ports and the adoption of the landlord model of port management in 2005 which has led to consistent improvement in cargo throughput from 46,150,518 metric tonnes in 2006 to 82 million mt in 2011.”

According to Suleiman container traffic had similarly witnessed 12-15 percent annual growth.

He said because government was also keen to expand port capacity in line with the private sector taking the lead, private sector initiative was encouraged to develop Onne Federal Lighter Terminal and Federal Ocean Terminal which now   supports  the oil and gas sector.