TheCable

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says the policies introduced into the sector in the last one year have attracted investments worth over $86m.

The agency said this in a statement issued in response to the allegation of the Committee of Maritime Professionals (CMP) that NPA’s current management under Hadiza Bala-Usman, the managing director, is hindering investment in the sector.

I. S. Nasiru, principal manager, public affairs at NPA, said all policies and procedures introduced since the appointment of  Bala-Usman are borne out a “firm commitment” to actualising the change agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“In the same vein, the NPA is currently working with DP World to actualise the organisation’s determination to invest in Greenfield port opportunities in this country,” the statement read.

“The plan is to develop a DP World Terminal in the Lagos area and a suitable site is currently being sought. Both the brownfield as evident in the agreement on the Bulk Terminal and the Greenfield are investments worth billions of United State Dollars.”

The statement added  that Tanger Med Port of Morocco has equally indicated interest to invest the development of Greenfield Terminal, Logistics Base and warehousing and a variety other opportunities running into billions of dollars.

Nasiru said in its enthusiasm to improve the ease of doing business and increase revenue accruable to the country from its operations, NPA is guided by global best practices and a sense of fairness to all stakeholders in the industry.

He invited all stakeholders in the maritime sector to work together in the interest of the industry and the national at large.

“The NPA believes that making the best of the vast opportunities that our maritime resources offer can only be derived from working together towards the same purpose,” Nasiru said.

“Nigeria stands to gain a lot from our unity and we appeal to all stakeholders in the maritime sector to let us work in unity for the prosperity of our country.”