Decrepit marine & blue economy infrastructure renewal, an emergency
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L-R: Mr. Mohammad Koko, MD, NPA, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy
The level of decay of equipment and facilities to make the nation’s seaports operate at optimum level is alarming and deserves very urgent attention in order to optimize the relevance of nature’s endowment in the marine and blue economy to the nation.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the level of decay of critical infrastructure to make the Nigerian ports function at an optimal level is appalling and deserves very urgent attention.
Hence he directed the Managing Director, of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Muhammad Bello Koko, to compile the list of critical equipment deserving very urgent attention to enable him to source funding to promptly replace them.
Oyetola promised to give equal attention to all the ports across the country and not only those in Lagos, noting that he is working tirelessly towards achieving all targets set by President Bola Tinubu, in his Renewed Hope Agenda for the nation.
He, however, called on terminal operators in the ports to collaborate with the government to rehabilitate the collapsed quay walls and other areas requiring rehabilitation by contributing their own quota.
Oyetola said findings from his tour of Tincan and Apapa ports revealed that “Infrastructure is almost collapsing with what I have seen so far and it’s a major rehabilitation that has to be carried out and the dredging has to continue”.
He said he would engage with the Ministry of Works on the rehabilitation of the port access roads.
He appealed for the cooperation of all the rank and file officers to jointly reposition the maritime economy as a formidable one to earn foreign exchange and to create enormous job opportunities for Nigerians
Oyetola enthused, “We have the potential to grow our economy and create more jobs through this novel ministry. We must put everything to work to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President”.
He said the train-to-port project will be vigorously pursued as it is one of those means the port can be decongested and improve cargo throughput to the port.
The minister commended the management of the NPA under Muhammed Koko that it had performed so well and only needed to be supported and the critical support he promised to avail them.
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