In Two Years, NPA Generated Over $160m At Rivers Port
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) generated over $160 million and N2.5 billion from the Rivers port between 2016 and last year, it was learnt.
A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF) told The Nation that the revenue excludes terminal operators’ “huge debts” to the NPA.
NPA, the FMoF official said, was able to generate the amount because of the policies adopted by its Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman
“We, in the Ministry of Finance, sincerely appreciate the relentless efforts put in place by Ms Hadiza Bala Usman and her management team in restructuring the organisation, which has assisted in achieving optimal operational efficiency in the ports and boosted government revenue,” the official said.
NPA, he said, generated $57,601,191.20 and N772, 458,535.93 in 2016, and collected $20,122,781.09 and N366,091,603.45 during the same period.
In 2017, the official said, the NPA generated $62,301,975.72 and N1,121,834,253.10 and collected $20,605,246.82 and N435,881,674.09 last year.
“We learnt that the serene environment created by Ms Usman and enjoyed by stakeholders attracted more importers and increased ship traffic to the Rivers port. This led NPA to more revenue generation for the Federal Government.
“Her robust policy has also led to the move from the long-standing International Ship and Facility Security ( ISPS) Code level 2, to the current level 1. We were told that she also instructed all her port managers to maintain a cordial relationship with stakeholders and the host communities.
“The Rivers Port Complex has the potential to serve as the hub centre of transshipment. The vast undeveloped areas that surround the Bonny River reclamation Zone along the Port approach/port limit is suitable as investors Haven for cargo consolidation.
“The Brass LNG situated within the port’s jurisdiction is investors’friendly to meet the global requirement of liquefied natural gas. In furtherance to the Federal Government policy to boost/harness the resources, private sector investment would yield optimal and accruable revenue from oil and gas.
“Considering the directive by Ms Usman and her team on training and retraining of members of staff on the E-Service, such as E-SEN, Revenue Invoicing Management System ( RIMS), Customers Potal and E- Manifest, the NPA management has brought prospect to potential port users, stakeholders and operators,’’ the official said.
The official added that the Ministry was happy that NPA has a responsive management team, which has led to reduction in vessels turnaround time, serious improvement in revenue generation and collection, improvement in service delivery and improved safety guidelines at ports.
Speaking with The Nation on the amount generated by NPA from Rivers port, Ms Usman said the agency is doing everything possible to make the ports outside Lagos attractive for business to boost government revenue.
NPA, she said, is happy over the revenue profile of the Rivers port because the government needs money to fix the economy.
NPA management, the Managing Director said, has concluded plan to make sure that finger jetty at the dockyard, operational Tug Boats, patrol boats and functional water hydrants at the quays are provided to attract more cargoes and ships traffic to Rivers port.
