She added that port infrastructure being built by the government and assets acquired under her leadership are key in improving efficiency at the port as Nigeria look towards improving maritime sector contribution to GDP.

She made this known during the inauguration of two tugboats, MT Musawa and MT Ikoro-Ekiti, acquired by the authority.

According to her, “To achieve our objectives, we need to have tugboats that have capacity for larger and bigger container vessels to come and efficiently berth in our port.”

She added that for the effective execution of its functions in all port locations, the authority was committed to continuous upgrade of facilities and equipment that will enhance service delivery.

“This commitment is to ensure that all the six functioning seaports are prepared for optimal performance at all times. This determination accounts for the purchase of these new tugboats, MT Musawa & MT Ikoro-Ekiti joining our other fleet of four namely: MT Daura, MT Ubima, MT Uromi and MT Majiya, which were commissioned in 2017,” she added.

In his speech, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, stated that if anyone was in doubt as to the importance of the maritime sector to Nigerian and global economy, the event of the past three months where ports across the world have remained open in spite of the comprehensive lockdown of virtually other sectors should instruct on why priority attention has to be given to the sector.

“Given government’s determination to develop other sectors of the national economy and reduce reliance on the oil and gas sector, we have identified the pivotal role that the maritime sector occupies in the actualisation of the fundamental objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of this administration.

“We understand that not less than 85 percent of the country’s external trade passes through the seaports and are committed to repositioning the ports for greater efficiency.

“The much talked about transition from a mono-product into a diversified economy is heavily dependent on how robust we can make our maritime space and we are committed to achieving this.

“As you are aware, work is ongoing on President’s directive that all seaport locations must be linked up to the standard gauge rail line even as we are determined to link up the thirty- six (36) state capitals with the Federal Capital, Abuja with standard gauge rail services.

“I particularly want to commend the NPA for delivering on this project nine month ahead of schedule. This is the kind of efficiency that the administration wants to entrench in the polity and I am happy that we are making progress,” he said.

According to him, in line with the determination of the federal government to expand the country’s economic base, an efficient and effective port system is needed where all stakeholders are confident about receiving prompt and seamless attention, where vessels berth efficiently and cargo are evacuated smoothly.

“This is more so when we consider the size of Nigeria’s economy, its population and the prime position that it holds on the African continent as well as the global maritime space.

“It is therefore our determination to ensure the continuous improvement of the state of equipment at the ports, ensuring the effective management of channel depths as well as the constant upgrading of port infrastructure. “Towage service has been an integral part of the determinants of the efficiency of any port as it ensures expeditious passage of vessels in channels and safety in berthing them.

“Tugboats are essential for effective and seamless berthing of vessels as well as containing any outbreak of fire in or during operations. As a result, the purchase and commissioning of two Damen’s 2810 model tugboats christened MT Musawa and MT Ikoro-Ekiti, respectively, are giant strides in buoying the capacity of the NPA, for more effectiveness,” he said.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who made the disclosure in Abuja, added that the President Nana Akufo-Addo administration had undertaken to rebuild the structure.

The facility in question was last Friday demolished by non-state actors over alleged poor documentation.

But the country’s leader, on Wednesday, apologised for the unfortunate incident.

The minister, however, said Nigeria should be partly blamed for not legalising the property, acquired some 20 years ago.

According to him, part of the reasons for the pulling down was the failure of successive governments to submit the title deeds.

Onyeama, therefore, commended the West African nation for also pledging to prosecute the perpetrators.

He confirmed that the vandals had been charged and would be arraigned any time soon.

The minister said the Nigerian government was satisfied with the prompt response of the Ghanaian authorities.

To Nigerians, who had opted for sanctions, Onyeama stated: “There is a distinction between state and non-state actors. We cannot take action against the Ghanaian state for what the state was not totally responsible for.”

He went on: “In this circumstance, the protection given to the Nigerian High Commission might not have been of the expected standard, but other nations of the world had also gone through a similar ordeal, but the host countries were not held responsible.

“When the United Nations building in Nigeria was attacked by the Boko Haram sect, they did not take it against Nigeria, because it was a non-state action.

“Also, many foreigners have been killed in Nigeria. There are always such violent actions by non-state actors, but we have to engage the government. It is only when the government fails to take the necessary steps that actions can be initiated against it.”

“So, the actions of non-state actors cannot jeopardise the brotherly and friendly relationship we have with Ghana. We are satisfied with the action of the Ghanaian President, and all we have to do, is to pursue proper documentation of the building,” Onyeama stated.

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There were traffic gridlocks on major highways and destruction of properties, including a building collapse at Iyana Ipaja, a Lagos suburb.

The rain also forced many residents to stay indoors.

Some of the worst affected areas include Agege, Lekki, Ajah, Victoria Island, Ifako, Oworo, Ogudu, Ayobo, Gbagada, Iyana-Ipaja, Ebutte Metta and few other areas.

At Iyana Oworo, the submerged road caused vehicular traffic to stretch all the way back to Alausa, a more than 10-kilometre distance.

Residents and commuters took to various social media to share their ordeal.

In a video shared by a Twitter user, the flood took over Iyana Oworo inwards Third mainland Bridge, leaving several vehicles stuck in the water.

On Ikorodu road, vehicles were stuck in a heavy traffic gridlock with little or no movement for several hours.

At Iyana Ipaja, a one storey building housing eight rooms and 23 shops collapsed during the downpour.

In a statement by Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), he said the adjoining fence to the staircase of the building collapsed, leading to the partial collapse of the building.

When newsmen contacted Nosa Okunbor, the spokesperson of the LASEMA, he said an update would be given on the state of flood in some areas of the state.

Credit: Premium Times

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