Management of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA and that of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, have commenced moves to ensure the quick evacuation of cargoes from the nation’s seaports. Speaking during a facility maintenance inspection of the state of the rail lines in the Ports, Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadeza Bala Usman said that the agency, more than ever before, was determined to improve the present state of infrastructure at the ports to meet world class standards.
Usman who was represented by the General Manager MD’s Office, Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu said that Management was fully aware of the state of congestion in the Ports caused by the bad roads within the Port axis adding that the development has led to reduction in revenue accruable to the organisation. The agency regretted the inability of the nation to maximise its potential as a major player in the Maritime sector in Sub-Saharan Africa.
She said ‘’ Management would collaborate and improve on the existing synergy with the NRC at addressing the challenges facing the Corporation with a view to increasing the market size of the country in the area of Cargo evacuation ‘’. In the same vein, Managing Director of the NRC, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, represented by Director Operations, of the Corporation said that the working visit was to assess the present state of the rail lines in order to further collaborate with the NPA in the area of rehabilitation.
According to Alli, the rail service would be optimally utilised for Cargo evacuation in line with the Federal Government’s policy of Ease of Doing Business in the country. He stated that plans are being concluded by putting into operation between 15- 20 Locomotive Wagons with each evacuating 20 units of 40 footer container at a go from the Terminals to the hinterland. It will be recalled that the Honourable Minister of Transportation Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, recently instituted a Committee comprising the Managing Directors of NPA and NRC to carry out on the spot assessment of the present state of the rail lines in the Terminals. It is expected that the rehabilitations would go a long way towards the swift evacuation of Cargo from the Ports
