NPA, NPERA Mandates Clearly Defined, Says Ports Authority As Lagos Port Rehab Kicks Off

NPA, NPERA Mandates Clearly Defined, Says Ports Authority As Lagos Port Rehab Kicks Off
By Prince Benson Davies

The Nigerian Ports Authority has moved to calm apprehension within the maritime sector over the new Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, stating that the responsibilities of both institutions have been properly delineated to avoid duplication.

Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday during a meeting with the executive members of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria, the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Strategy of the NPA, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, said the emergence of NPERA as the economic regulator for the ports does not in any way erode the operational mandate of the NPA.

According to him, the review process of the bill that birthed NPERA involved all relevant agencies under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. The aim, he explained, was to ensure that each agency retains its core function while supporting the overall growth of the sector.

He noted that the Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola, directed that all agencies be carried along before the bill was forwarded for presidential assent. That engagement, he said, provided room to scrutinize every clause and remove grey areas that could lead to friction in future.

“The Honourable Minister, and by extension the Managing Director of NPA, has been intentional about harmony among agencies. Before that bill was transmitted, we sat together and went through it line by line. The goal was to make sure there are no overlapping functions,” Onyemekara stated.

He further explained that government’s focus with the new framework is to improve service delivery, attract investment, and make Nigerian ports more competitive globally. He added that there was no intention to create confusion or rivalry among agencies.

“There is no cause for alarm. This is a positive step. Government is not introducing anything that will disrupt the system. What we want is a port system that works better for trade and for the economy,” he said.

On infrastructure, the NPA spokesman disclosed that arrangements for the long-awaited rehabilitation of the Lagos ports have reached an advanced stage. He said construction works are expected to commence soon at the Apapa port.

As part of preparations, the Authority has begun community sensitization in areas around the port. He said residents need to be informed ahead of time because of the noise and movement that will come with the project.

Onyemekara assured that port operations will not be grounded during the rehabilitation. The work, he said, will be executed in phases, either on a berth-by-berth or terminal-by-terminal basis, to ensure that vessels can still berth while construction is ongoing.

“The reconstruction will not lead to a total shutdown. We are adopting a phased approach so that activities can continue side by side with the construction work,” he explained.

Onyemekara further stated that communities around the Apapa port corridor will also benefit from job opportunities during the rehabilitation. He said the project will require a number of field workers for different categories of tasks.

“There will be openings for people within the area. I am certain of that. They will need hands for menial jobs and part-time roles during the construction period,” he said.

On the concern that port development has been skewed towards Lagos, the NPA spokesperson clarified that the rehabilitation plan is nationwide. He said the Federal Government has also approved similar works for ports in the Eastern region.

He noted that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, recently confirmed that approvals for the rehabilitation of Eastern ports had been secured. According to him, this forms part of a deliberate strategy to upgrade port infrastructure across the country and not only in Lagos.

“Just recently, the Honourable Minister announced that approvals have also been gotten for the Eastern ports. So the rehabilitation is not limited to Lagos. The Eastern ports are fully captured in the plan,” Onyemekara explained.

He added that even though cargo traffic at Eastern ports is presently lower compared to Lagos, their importance to regional trade and industries cannot be overlooked. The upgrade, he said, will help those ports handle more volume and better serve businesses in their catchment areas.

“The Eastern ports may not have the same level of patronage as Lagos for now, but they are critical to the economies around them. That is why they are also being prioritized in this rehabilitation exercise,” he stated.