Exonerate NPA Eastern Ports Operations from further industrial, health hazards — Kingsley
By Amaike Ihuoma Okoronkwo, Port Harcourt
The management and staff of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have been commended for prompt response to the plight of the people most especially in handling the terminal operators and entrepreneurs within the country.
This commendation came from St. Georgia Entrepreneurial and Development School Port Harcourt, Rivers State who presented an award of recognition to the Port Manager Mr. Adamu Michael, thanking him for his prowess and acumen in the management of the affairs of the NPA most especially the Eastern Ports Operations where the terminal operators and entrepreneurs have maintained a cordial relationship and maximised their business potentials with the ease of doing business with Nigerian Ports Authority Easter Ports Operations Port Harcourt.
According to Apostle George Kingsley, St. Georgia Entrepreneurial And Development School Port Harcourt has always identified with training, skills acquisition, career development, entrepreneurs, environmental and other human resources developmental services.
He said in recent times, the school found it necessary to commend the environmental cleanness and the ease of doing business to which terminal operators and entrepreneurs have enjoyed with the management of the NPA Eastern Ports Operations.
He went further to say that if the management of the NPA has failed in their responsibility to discharge their duties effectively, complaints would have been the order of the day but because they have done so well, they need more commendations from corporate bodies and institutions like St. Georgia Entrepreneurial And Development School.
“Here we understood that there are professional hands that are working for the government and not only professional hands from our internal investigations, we have come to understand that they are also generating revenue for the government.
“We are very happy with what NPA is doing in Rivers State courtesy of the NPA Eastern Ports Operations. Somewhere like Nembe Waterfront and other places prone to environmental hazards, we have heard so much about explosion which has caused so much hazards in some localities.
“Some claimed lives, destroyed properties but here the reverse is the case. If NPA is not doing well we would have had so much complaints from terminal operators and entrepreneurs doing genuine business with the NPA.
“Above all you are accommodating terminal operators and entrepreneurs the likes of Dangote Cement, BUA Manufacturing Company etc for the benefit of the Nigerian economy and global needs.
“These companies have employed indigenes of the state and these indigenes are gaining from the environmental standards you put in place at the place of work.
“There is relative peace in these areas mentioned and we are happy about it for your diligence in maintaining high level of clean energy and environment.
“If we are talking about industrial and health hazards, we have not found any even here and within the ports complex so we saw it important to come and applaud you for doing well. Thank you NPA, you are doing well and that is why we are here.”
In his response, the Port Manager, Mr Adamu Michael, expressed his concern that the management of the NPA Eastern Ports Operations are always concerned with doing the right thing.
“You are aware that we are in the business of shipping and maritime, of course, NPA is a conglomerate whereby we are not just here only for the state, we are for Nigeria and we are one of the global players in the maritime industries in the word.
“We are affiliated to so many hobbies, institutions of the world, as you know NPA is the gateway to Nigeria’s economy hence you don’t expect us to play second to others, we are on top of the game.
“As you rightly said, we are concerned and we make sure that our environment has very good conditions for our workers to do their best to increase productivity because where the health of workers is compromised, you don’t expect them to be happy and you would have less performance than you expect.
“NPA will definitely address the issue of environment but what about the state, have you people assessed the state? Are they on top of the game in cleaning the environment? Because the external can be more overwhelming than the internal.
“So if the external is not properly taking care of, the internal may have its own challenges. Good thing Governor Nyesom Wike took up the challenge that this issue of black soot that has disturbed the environment. I hope you people are up-to-date with that. So I want to thank you for deeming it feet to recognise the fact that the Port industry especially the Eastern Ports is deploying maximum control with sanitation of environment and even the work place, so I appreciate your efforts.”
The Port Manager also used the medium to warn the public against some persons who are in the habit of forming pressure groups with the view to paying homage to the management of the NPA to desist from doing so because the management of the NPA will not tolerate such unwarranted visits.
He further informed that he will instruct his members of staff on the need to scrutinise and verify the eligibility of institutions and corporate bodies before welcoming them on courtesy visit to the Nigerian Ports Authority Eastern Ports Operations.
