Daily Independent Online.
*
Tuesday, August 24, 2004.
NPA chief tasks businessmen on reforms
By Walter Ukaegbu
Maritime Correspondent, Lagos
Northern businessmen, desirous of playing roles in
the maritime sector, must have to embrace the on-going Federal
Government’s ports reform in order to maximise the benefits that will
accrue from the exercise.
Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA), Executive
Director, Corporate Services, Alhaji Wasiu Yaro, who said this, challenged them
not to sit on the fence as a major opportunity is opening up, for which they
can be major beneficiaries.
Yaro made the call during a courtesy visit to Sokoto
State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, at the Government House, Sokoto,
advising port users and stakeholders from the area to synergise efforts, which
will aid them partake meaningfully in the reforms process.
He appealed to them to reject the negative views,
making the rounds nationwide about the reform programme, adding that it was the
Federal Government’s effort at ensuring a better living standard for the
people through a more efficient operations at the nation’s seaports.
The executive director was guest at a workshop on
fraud prevention and control for NPA top management staff, aimed at sensitising
employees of the authority on the incidents of corruption and fraud and ways of
reducing or eradicating them.
According to him, the authority’s management is
making efforts at reducing corruption in the organisation, which is part of
efforts of the Federal Government to reform the civil service.
Yaro, who served as a commissioner in the state over
a decade ago, lauded the governor for his people-oriented programmes.
Bafarwa appealed to the executive director to ensure
that he leaves a good track record in public service.
He said Sokoto is one of the most peaceful states in
the country and thanked Yaro for bringing the training programme to the state.
Meanwhile, NPA’s Assistant General Manager,
Public Relations, Mr. Christopher Borha, last week said that since
authority’s Managing Director, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, assumed office in
October last year, he has brought to bear the principles of transparency,
fiscal discipline and management on the affairs of the authority.
He stated that the managing director would leave no
stone unturned in ensuring that the ports reform programme of the Federal
Government is on track.
Borha
explained that the doors of the NPA are open to constructive and genuine
criticisms, which he added would highlight the positive exploits of the
Sarumi-led management.
According
to him, the NPA will continue to render efficient and customer-friendly
services, assuring all the
stakeholders and port users of its valued partnership in moving the maritime
industry forward.
