From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
Towards achieving more efficient port operations and sustainable services that will reduce poverty and inequality in the country, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has requested from the World Bank continued collaboration on port infrastructure development.
This comes as the World Bank Nigeria Office, during a working visit to the agency, has described Nigeria’s port concession model as the best in Africa
NPA Managing Director, Mohammed Bello Koko, during his meeting with the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) officials, noted that the port concession exercise has clearly enhanced Nigeria’s goal of becoming the leading blue economy in Africa.
Koko stated that his administration was focused on facilitating a port-led industrialisation for the country through infrastructural renewal and deployment of modern technology tools, according to a statement from the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Ibrahim Nasiru.
He told the delegation from the World Bank Nigeria Office, led by Senior Transport Specialist, Olatunji Ahmed, and the IFC Principal Investment Officer, Infrastructure, Christian Mulamula, that the agency duly appreciates the bank’s excellent support under its private participation in infrastructure (PPI) scheme.
Urging a sustained synergy, especially as the agency seeks alternative funding sources to bridge its infrastructure gaps, he added: “We look forward to better collaboration in the development of more mega or deep-sea ports across the country with world class facilities, high quality and efficient operating system, like the Lekki Deep Seaport is now our priority.
“With the quality of attention being paid by the Federal Government to port infrastructure renewal, we are very confident that moving goods to and from Nigerian ports would soon be top of the range, cost-efficient and comparable with the leading ports of the world.
“We have made remarkable progress tackling the intractable traffic gridlock on the port access roads with the deployment of an electronic call-up system for trucks, called ‘Eto’. There is room for improvement. The Apapa axis is good but on the Tin-Can axis, we’re calling for a quick fix before the rains.”
Koko further disclosed that the 25-Year Port Masterplan, which had earlier suffered some glitches, was now back on track, and that the agency would collaborate with the World Bank to operationalise it.
Earlier Ahmed had assured that the World Bank Group would continue to partner Nigeria and other interested countries to develop a safe, green, efficient and inclusive transport infrastructure and services, and would sustain assistance to the NPA in its quest to become the preferred cargo destination in Africa.
The delegates expressed both world organisations’ willingness to work with NPA in improving port infrastructure under a public private partnership arrangement between the agency and other third parties, while also requesting for a project tracker report on the actions and milestones in the port concession programme so far.
Ahmed also said that his office would assist the agency in its review of port concession agreements with terminal operators, including in issues of governance, pricing, operations, transit/exit from the port, traffic management and other key issues, as outlined in the framework.
Also, Mulamula disclosed that the IFC would invest in the Lekki Deep Seaport project, and is willing to support the terminal operators upgrade their facilities and equipment. He further disclosed IFC’s plan to invest funds for the rehabilitation of the Tin-Can Island Port as a private participation in infrastructure (PPI) project.
