Following the incessant attacks of vessels by sea pirates in Onne and Rivers Ports, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) says it is partnering with the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Maritime Safety and Administration (NIMASA) to tackle the menace.
NPA also said, plans are in the pipeline to acquire two 1.7 meters offshore monitoring vessels to complement the efforts and make the waterways safe for traffics.
Managing Director, NPA, Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman disclosed this at the weekend in Port Harcourt during the quarterly stakeholders forum held at NPA Dockyard, Rivers Port.
Represented by, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mohammed Bello Koko, Usman said, soon the Nigeria Navy will be deployed to Onne and Rivers Ports to enhance surveillance and security of the facilities.
The MD also said, NPA has gotten approval for the procurement and purchase of six water tanks patrol boats.
She said the six patrol boats will enable the security agencies to patrol in and around the ports for safety.
Hadiza Usman also insisted that arrangements are in top gear with the Nigeria Navy and the office of the National Security Adviser for installation of a 3 c i, a security system that would enable NPA to monitor vessels and ships and pick them up when there is any distress.
She noted that, the disastrous system faced by the ports will soon be curbed through the NPA’s collaboration with the Navy and NIMASA.
According to the MD, the federal government is working assiduously to improve security of lives and property nationwide to the benefit of everyone.
On equipment, Hadiza Usman said, NPA will soon acquire more tugboats and construction of six pilot cutters in Onne Port to enhance productivity.
The Managing Director also said, procure processes is ongoing for the purchase of six marine boats, even as NPA is planning to dualise Bonny channel to accommodate more sea going vessels to increase traffics.
She also told the stakeholders that NPA will soon embark on the dredging of Rivers Port dockyard, to accommodate more vessels.
Usman decried that the facility at the dockyard is near moribund as budgetary provision has been made to upgrade the dockyard.
She assured terminal operators and stakeholders that, NPA will soon embark on concession reviews in the port.
Earlier, Port Manager, Rivers Port, Alhaji Abubakar Umar lauded the Managing Director, Hadiza Bello Usman for embarking on the restructuring of NPA.
Umar said, the restructuring has helped in achieving optimum operation efficiency in the ports.
On the achievements, Umar said the serene atmosphere enjoyed by the stakeholders has attracted more importers and increased ship traffic in the port which has led to more revenue generation.
The port manager also disclosed that, Rivers Port maintains cordial relationship with the stakeholders and terminal operators for efficiency.
Management, he said recently allocated two new security patrol vans to the port.
Other achievements by Umar include, responsive management, reduction in vessel turnaround time.
Alhaji Abubakar also said, Rivers Port recorded improvement in revenue generation and collection, improvement in service delivery and improved safety guidelines.

Chinedu Wosu