The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has expressed dismay over the lack of adequate safety measures at various terminals in the ports resulting in high rates of accident leading to injuries and loss of lives and properties.

The Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Abdulsalam Muhammed, made this known last Wednesday, in Lagos at the association’s Safety and Health Week.

Represented by the Head, Safety, Fire and Occupational Health Department  of NPA, Arc. Suleiman Dan Hassan, Muhammed said the rate of accidents at the terminals had heightened in the last six months adding that, it reduced the abilities of workers at the terminals.

While noting that health and safety were the key tools for optimum performance in any establishment, Muhammed opined that the absence of these could result in the reduction of workers’ output.

In his words: “the safety and health of any worker in  an establishment happens to be the driving force of such  worker to give of his best to the establishment. By the nature of the work at the ports and terminals, safety measures should be the priority of the management  because nobody would produce optimally in the midst of fear of accident and even loss of life. It therefore becomes pertinent that each terminal should consider the lives of its workers for best results by ensuring that health and safety measures made intact.

Frowning at the accident rates at the different ports and terminals in recent times, the managing director advised department heads to adopt and adhere to safety measures to check accidents as well as create a conducive environment for increased productivity.

Muhammed, however, commended the Lagos Port manager, Joshua Asanga for the adequate safety measures he had put in place and urged the other colleagues to emulate the gesture.

The event had port industry stakeholders like terminals operators, dock workers, freight forwarders among others in attendance.