The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko has revealed that NPA is currently reviewing a couple of requests to construct a deep-water port along the eastern corridor to expand opportunities across the country.
Mohammed Bello-Koko stated this when he was awarded the Public Sector Icon of the Year 2022 by Vanguard Newspaper in Lagos on Friday January 27, 2023.
Mohammed Bello-Koko said he was particularly delighted and honoured that some third eye noticed and recognised efforts of the NPA at reforming the maritime industry.
He noted that over the last year, 2 billion dollars had been invested in port equipment, expansion, and development (Lekki Port, $1.5 billion; WACT Onne, $100 million among others).
Bello-Koko said “I must admit that I feel incredibly honoured to have received the Public Sector Icon of the Year Award 2022 by Vanguard newspaper yesterday. The award is a recognition of the improvement we have achieved over the past year since my confirmation as the substantive Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority.
“We are particularly delighted and honoured that some third eye has noticed and recognised our efforts at reforming the maritime industry. This is both encouraging and intuitive.
“Over the last year, we have consummated FDIs totalling over 2 billion dollars in port equipment, expansion, and development (Lekki Port, $1.5 billion; WACT Onne, $100 million among others), as well as freeing up the notorious traffic congestion at the Apapa Ports.
“We have rehabilitated key port infrastructure across the six ports and are continuing to seek low-cost funds to completely rehabilitate Tin Can and Apapa Ports.
“We are also reviewing a couple of requests to construct a deep-water port along the eastern corridor on order to expand opportunities across the country.
“Especially noteworthy is that the Nigerian Ports Authority’s primary responsibility is to facilitate trade. The greater the volume of trading, the more jobs and revenue it would generate for the government. Therefore, the first set of reforms we embarked on was to remove trade barriers and digitise out processes.
“We are hopeful that the media and the general public will continue to recognize our decent contributions to nation-building and job creation.”
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