The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) will beginning from today, embark on 24 hours ports operations across the nation’s seaports, in line with the directive of the Federal Government, on ease of doing business.
Subsequently, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi who echoed it has directed the Authority to immediately comply, stressing the need to leverage on the new partnership relationship between the NPA and the Port Miami in drawing the desired strength, anchoring on the technical partnership for a mandatory transfer of knowledge, expected to further help to diversify the Nigerian economy.
The Minister who was ably represented by the Director of Marine services Alh. Sani Umar Galandanci issued the directive, while speaking at a trade forum between the NPA and a delegation of the Miami Dade County, Florida, and Port Miami, USA on Tuesday in Lagos.
In her address, the NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman who was represented by the Executive Director Engineering and Technical services Prof. Idris Abubakar affirmed the preparedness of the Authority to comply with the directive, noting that that the new relationship between NPA and Port Miami would not only positively tinker on NPA’s efficiency ratings, but also, definitely expand bilateral trade opportunities and enhance a greater opportunity that will be mutually beneficial to the two nations.
“The trade forum is an important means through which we can highlight the capabilities of our port system and diversity of trade”, Hadiza indicated.
In his contribution His Imperial Majesty Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife who stated that it was fine to benchmark the collaboration between Nigeria and the port Miami in the areas of trade facilitation and bilateral ties, pointed out that the ideals of African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) need to be upheld in all ramification.
The Ooni of Ife highlighted standardization and packaging as aspects that would aid comparative advantage to Nigerians in trade to the United States, stressing that the country is adequately blessed with vast mineral resources which would attract investment.
Identifying banana, pineapple and shea butter as starting points, the Imperial Majesty, Ooni postulated that in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria, seats amidst multiple natural and mineral resources stressing that the alliances have to be strengthened to yield greater dividends.
In his own speech, the distinguished Senator Ovie Omo – Agege who represented the National Assembly appreciated the management of NPA for facilitating the stakeholders Trade Forum with the Miami Dade office of Economic Development and International trade adding that it was in the interest of the nation to regularly engage and take proactive measures on existing and new investment opportunities.
Omo – Agege also added that the National Assembly would not fail to provide robust statutory frame works for the functioning of our governmental, corporate and social processes.
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II (right) receiving a plaque from Desmond Alufokhai, an official from Port Miami at the dinner organized for the delegates and other stakeholders by NPA’s Management.Advertisement
Also speaking at the event, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Iyalode Alaba Lawson lauded NPA, asserting that the forum would greatly implore trade relations between Nigeria and the United States of America in general and Miami – Dade county in particular, adding that NACCIMA would promote and advocate a free – market economy of which international trade is a major component.
In her response, the leader of the delegation from the Miami Dade county and the Port Miami Audrey M. Edmonson who expressed joy that a woman is at the helm of affairs in NPA, also affirming that Miami – Dade county and the Port of Miami were ready for business and investment from Nigerian.
Edmonson assured that everything would be done to ensure there is direct commercial flight between Miami and Lagos for fast facilitation of trade between the two great nations.
In his own contribution, the chief Executive officer (CEO) OF Miami port Juan Kuryla demonstrated how his port overcame congestion Challenges by investing in new facilities over the years through the Public Private Partnership.
The CEO of Port Miami highlighted that his port was genuinely looking forward to closer synergy from Ports across Africa, especially from the Lagos Ports whose relationship with them he said dates back to more than a decade of mutual association.
