We are not going to be in competition with management - NPA Board.

The newly inaugurated board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has promised that it would not be in competition with the management but form a synergy to achieve the set objectives of the Authority.

The Board also promised to make the eastern ports viable as well as facilitate easy evacuation of cargo from Lagos ports to put an end to the poor service delivery in the ports.

The Chairman of the Board, Chief Akin Ricketts said this in his speech after the inauguration in Abuja on Thursday.

Chief Ricketts who said that the eastern ports were grossly underutilized due to many factors, added that efforts would be put in place to rid the ports of the challenges.

He added that the efficiency of Lagos ports was hampered by inadequate evacuation corridors that lead to congestion on the road affecting service delivery.

“Let me assure the Honourable Minister, that this Board does not and would not consider itself an alternate Management nor be in competition with the Management but will synergise with and perform effective oversight of the Management to ensure that the mission, vision and strategic objectives of NPA are achieved.

“Honourable Minister sir, the major issues confronting our ports today are capacity utilisation and evacuation corridors. While the ports in the East are being grossly underutilized due to many factors, the efficiency of the ports in Lagos is hampered by inadequate evacuation corridors that lead to congestion on the road, which ultimately affects prompt service delivery.

“This is a challenge that we intend to confront head-on in conjunction with other stakeholders, with a view to ameliorating the sufferings of port users and ease business in the port, as envisaged by the Federal Government.

Earlier, the board chairman promised to create a window where the agency would have an interface with stakeholders on policy matters even as he stated that employees too would be given opportunity to air their views on issues affecting the organisation.

“As is the tradition with this kind of occasions, we are privileged to have been carefully chosen to contribute our quota to the development of our country but in this case, in a strategic area of our national life; the maritime industry.

“On behalf of my other colleagues on the Board, I will like to assure Mr. President, through you Honourable Minister that we would do our utmost to ensure that his confidence in us is not misplaced and would not be abused. As a serious Government on a National Rescue mission, we assure you that we will immediately commence discharging our responsibilities without let or hindrance.

“As an organisation that has been in existence since 1955, we are sure that NPA would have its share of challenges and issues that need to be resolved or need immediate attention.

“We will do that in conjunction with the Management and all relevant stakeholders. We will ensure that we give every issue and matter that comes to our attention the consideration it deserves and deal with it fairly and objectively, without favour or ill will.

“Let me assure the Honourable Minister that this Board does not and would not consider itself an alternate Management nor be in competition with the Management but will synergies with and perform effective oversight of the Management to ensure that the mission, vision and strategic objectives of NPA are achieved.

“We will create an atmosphere where employees would be given the opportunity to air their views and express dissent on any policy or action they feel strong about. And we will ensure that measures are emplaced so that this process is not unduly abused.

“We will ensure that feedback mechanisms are in place from our major stakeholders and port users so that we improve on service delivery, efficiency and capacity.