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The immediate past managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko yesterday said the agency generated N541 billion in the first half of 2024.
He said the agency also remitted N255 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Funds (CRF) within the first six months of the year.
Bello-Koko, made the disclosures in his valedictory remarks at the handover to the new managing director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
He said the performance of the agency in the first half of 2024 surpassed its year-on-year total revenue generation and remittances in any year.
He said the cumulative revenue of the NPA between 2022 and the first half of 2024 was N1.423 trillion
He said his administration put in place sustainable reforms, especially a drastic improvement in the Turn-Around-Times of vessels and trucks in Apapa and TinCan ports.
He, however, said he is handing over a new staff clinic and five other completed projects to his successor for commissioning.
He confirmed that NPA increased staff salaries during his tenure.
But he pleaded with the staff to cooperate with and redouble their commitment to his successor.
He said he felt fulfilled for improving NPA better than he met it.
He said: “We recorded an unprecedented growth in revenue generation and remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) from Revenue of N381 billion in 2022 and N501 billion in 2023 to N541 billion in the first half of 2024 and remittances to CRF increasing from N93.4 billion in 2022 to N206 billion in 2023 and to N255 billion in the first half of 2024—surpassing our year-on-year total revenue generation and remittances in any year.
“Unprecedented tax remittances to the federal government ranging up to N60 billion in the period of my stewardship.
“We raised the bar higher. Our hope and prayers are for the new management to continue on this trajectory and surpass it.
But we were also deliberate on dialogue and driving reforms.”
He listed some of his achievements in office, including all-round port efficiency.
He said: “We hit the ground running with the necessary approvals to get the Lekki Deep Seaport fully operational to retake the lost transit and transshipment cargo.
“Promoted the non-oil export drive of the President by setting up ten (10) Export Processing Terminals (EPTs), mainstreaming it to the NXP and e-call up system to facilitate exports, and the result is evident in the attainment of a foreign trade surplus, as highlighted in the NBS report for Q1 2024.
“Upgraded Data Center, Servers, Storage, and Business Continuity.
“Established a data recovery and protection unit with an up-to-date data protection audit certification.
“Digitised staff attendance for accountability and improved productivity.
“Ensured the sustainability and free flow of cargo by clearing the decade-long traffic gridlock menacing the Apapa and Tincan Island port complexes, and its environs.
“Provided aids to navigation such as buoys, fenders, and bollards across all the ports, and also enhanced seaside operations by providing marine crafts, pilot cutters, tugboats, mooring boats, etc to improve port efficiency.
“These led to a reduction in both vessel and truck turn-around times. The vessel TAT went down from an average of 6.5 days to an average of five days, while truck TAT went from an average of 10 days to a few hours.”
On his part, the new NPA boss Abubakar Dantsoho, said his main goal as the head of the authority is to reposition the organisation for increased productivity and greater efficiency for improved revenue generation to the authority and country.
Dantsoho, said the authority under him would rise up to the intense competition from neighbouring countries.
According to him, the authority would work tirelessly to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance the overall user experience in our ports.
“As we embark on this Journey together, I wish to seize this opportunity to state that our main goal is to reposition the Organization for increased productivity and greater efficiency for improved revenue generation to the Authority and country. We must rise up to the intense competition we face from our neighbours, we must work tirelessly to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance the overall user experience in our ports.
“I am confident that our predetermined objectives can be achieved through our collective efforts, therefore collaboration and teamwork will be the cornerstone of our success. I challenge you to come with me on this journey. Let me assure you that we will aim to pay closer attention to staff welfare by ensuring timely payment of emoluments, compensations and addressing issues of training & capacity development particularly for deserving employees who add value in their areas of deployment.”
Dantsoho, however, disclosed that the authority will continue the digital transformation of the Authority and reinforce the current efforts at deploying the Port Community System (PCS).
He further disclosed that the authority will pay attention to the logistics that surround the arrival of cargoes along the port corridor.
“We will reward hard work and develop leadership for the future stability of the Nigerian Ports Authority. We will continue the digital transformation of the Authority and reinforce the current efforts at deploying the Port Community System (PCS) which we believe is key to our dream of total automation of our processes, thereby eliminating leakages and corruption.
“The current efforts towards infrastructure renewal and development will be enhanced.
In particular, we will drive, Port Rehabilitation and Modernization, we will pay attention to the logistics that surround the arrival of cargoes along the port corridor, their receipt at the terminals and loading onboard ships in the most efficient way and also cargo evacuation from our ports, Deep sea Ports Development, in order to unlock the full potential of the Nigerian economy.
“Promotion of transparency, accountability and Ease of doing business in our ports, we shall enhance collaboration and communication between sister agencies and promote stakeholder engagement.
“In this regard, we will begin engagement with Terminal Operators and Shipping lines as primary recipients of our services to feel their pulse and thereafter other stakeholders to seek greater cooperation and collaboration.”
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