NPA to commence sulphur analysis for ships*

NPA to commence sulphur analysis for ships

The Federal Government has put modalities in place, including the procurement of necessary tools to enhance the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in the area of sulfur analysis, as well as enforcing a sanction regime for vessels that contravene the sulfur regulations.

PICTURE SPACE: Managing Director of NEPZA, Olufemi Ogunyemi (4th from left); Board Chairman, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), Mr Biodun Dabiri (5th from Left); Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (6th from left); and MD of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko (7th from left) and other dignitaries when the CMA CGM Scandola came calling at Lekki Port on Monday.

The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, disclosed this while speaking at a courtesy call by the CMA CGM Scandola, the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel to visit any Nigerian ports, at Lekki Deep seaport.

The Minister, who was represented by the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko, commended Lekki Deep Seaport’s eco-friendly measures, which align with global efforts to reduce carbon intensity in international shipping.

“To put action behind our words, we have taken concrete steps towards the procurement of necessary tools to enhance NPA’s capacity for sulphur analysis as well as put in place a sanction regime for vessels that contravene the sulphur regulations.

“The transition to the use of natural gas, which is more environmentally friendly, by vessels plying our waterways is a most welcome development. This is driven by the larger national interest because Nigeria’s gas quality is reputed to be high and virtually without sulphur.

“The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is convinced that shipping has a pivotal role to play in global decarbonisation efforts. This is why I would like to seize this moment to commend the management of the NPA’s compliance with the Ministerial Directive to take cognizance of global energy transition in its port modernization project by deliberately factoring in measures that promote energy efficiency, the minister noted.”

Speaking further, the former Osun State Governor also stated that aside from the vessel’s distinctive feature of eco-friendliness, ‘Scandola’ ranks amongst the largest container ships to be called in West Africa with 15,000 twenty equivalent units.

Earlier in his speech, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, lauded the accomplishment of Lekki Port in welcoming the largest LNG-powered container vessel, CMA CGM Sandola.

The Governor emphasized the transformative role of Lekki Port, traditionally a privilege reserved for developed nations, in putting Lagos and Nigeria on the map of global port transactions.

He underscored the need for expanded infrastructure, applauding the choice of Lekki as a home for Lekki Deep Port.

The governor further said that the vision for the state is to extend beyond the current achievement, envisioning Lagos as a pivotal hub not only for West Africa but for Central and potentially South Africa in the realm of logistics and container terminals.

He also reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic goals, emphasizing the crucial role of maritime and port businesses in driving the nation towards a $1 trillion economy by 2030.