Mallam Habib Abdullahi
Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi, has solicited the support of professional mariners to revive its marine department even as he expressed displeasure over the state of operation of the department.
The NPA stated this when members of the Society of Nigerian Mariners (SNM) visited him.
"I must say that I am not particularly happy with the state of our marine department, which is the nerve centre of our operation. Rather than improve, the division is deteriorating and we want to reverse this trend. The marine department is very dear to me and I will do everything possible to revive it and move our organisation forward", Abdullahi stated.
He challenged members of SNM to support his administration in reversing the challenges confronting the department.
He revealed that he facilitated the training of some Master Mariners in South Africa and would do more to ensure successful re-organisation of the department to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the discharge of its functions.
Abdullahi said that he was open to constructive suggestion from all stakeholders, whether on individual or collective basis, on how to enhance efficient service delivery by the organisation at all times.
He appealed to members of the society to make available the expertise and wealth of experience gained over the years to the management of the Authority, stressing that port activity remains the back-bone of the maritime industry.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of SNM, Mr. Cosmas Niagwan said that SNM was formed to be an all-embracing seafarer professional body for the promotion of the growth and development of the maritime industry in Nigeria.
He said body was incorporated to proffer solutions to the dearth of trained marine professionals in the services of the maritime industry in Nigeria by assisting in the development of sound maritime education, training and professional development.
Niagwan said the association was made of the three major actors on the seafront namely the ship captains, marine engineers and the navy.
According to him, SNM, which comprise those he described as “core professionals” in the marine operations, have resolved to pull their strength together with a view to assisting NPA whenever they are needed.
He said the association represents retired officers from the Navy, Marine Engineers and Master Mariners who still have steam and could provide relevant suggestion when asked.
Secretary of SNM, Mr. Greg Ogbeifun, in his remarks requested NPA to assist it with office accommodation to enable it function properly so as to meet stakeholders’ expectations.