As part of her measures to deepen relations with key stakeholders’ in the nation’s shipping industry and clearing agents in particular, the managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman has concluded a tour of leading associations of agents in Lagos.
Addressing members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders’ (NAGAFF), she assured of regular stakeholders forum so that players will be on the know of government policies in maritime sector from time to time.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Acting President of NAGAFF, Mr. Increase Uche expressed happiness on the visit and assured the support of the group in all reform coming from the NPA that will move the industry forward.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, welcomed the visit and pointed out some strategic areas that demand reforms in shipping administration.
During her visit to the national secretariat of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) in Lagos, Ms. Usman explained that the essence of her visit was to interact directly with critical stakeholders to discuss issues burning on the minds of the stakeholders and to seek collaborations on how to solve some of the challenges.
While acknowledging the need to block revenue leakages, make the ports more competitive in the area of appropriate pricing, she argued for the need for government to look at corruption so as to plug the leakages.
Elated NPA boss according to a statement issued by the General Manager (Public Affairs), Chief Michael Ajayi, told both the NAGAFF and ANLCA that “I am sure that not all of you are aware that I am a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption. The committee, in 2017 is coming to domicile an office in the Nigerian Ports Authority on implementing a report that was submitted by the ICPC on the corruption index in ports administration, we shall embark strongly on anti-corruption measures in 2017”.
