Eromosele Abiodun
The new Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, monday formerly assumed office promising to overhaul and make NPA a model government agency.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in a bid to revive the NPA last week appointed Usman as the new NPA managing director, making her the first female chief executive of a top tier federal government agency and of the NPA.
She took over from Alhaji Habib Abdullahi, who was reinstated by Buhari in August 2015 as the managing director of NPA, after he was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan in April 2015.
Speaking at the handover ceremony to the new management team at the agency’s Head Office in Marina, Lagos, she said the country expects much from the NPA.
According to her, “Our ports are a critical artery of the economy, and it is our duty to ensure that the operators deliver port services at the standards that our businesses deserve in the 21st century in supporting President Buhari’s administration agenda of economic diversity. We will strive for enhanced operating efficiencies to facilitate improved revenue generation and inflows into the national treasury.
“We will listen to our customers, importers, exporters and other agencies working in the Ports to improve on our service delivery to the nation, anything less than world-class services is simply not acceptable, as attaining such heights is a mission to which I am certain we can all subscribe.”
She added: “As a team leader, I have come to add my best efforts to yours so that we can collectively achieve results for our industry. We must work as a team, pursuing common goals with professionalism and diligence. We shall prioritise investment in primary equipment and infrastructure and services committed to by NPA in the concession agreements to hasten clearance of imports and exports from the ports. As we collaborate in the best traditions of public service, I believe that with commitment and diligence our hard work can position NPA as a model agency.”
To function as effective regulators, the NPA boss stressed that all staff of NPA must commit to the highest standards of performance and cohesion.
“Let us all uphold the most diligent work ethic, in our individual beats as well as in the collective undertakings required to achieve results. Everyone at the NPA has a role in promoting best practice, in upholding governance standards and in delivering quality services. We will work hard, with integrity and with zero-tolerance for corruption.
“As the new management settles down, we will be listening to your concerns and suggestions as we navigate the best options for effectively discharging the NPA’s mandate. But we will not shirk our responsibility to provide the leadership to improve the NPA. I hope that we will do it together,” Usman stated.
