Port Operations: NPA Declares Operational Outcomes
Remits N55,712, 565, 027.46 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF)
Mohammed Bello Koko, MD, NPA
There are hear warming indications that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has generated a total revenue of N191, 430,093,501.00 from its operations in the first half of 2023 as the agency remitted N55,712, 565, 027.46 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federation within the period.
In a half-year 2023 performance report, the NPA Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello Koko said given the existential economic headwinds both at the micro and macro levels, these operational statistics for the first six months were reassuring, adding that they catalyzed the commendable remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government thus far.
His words “Viewed within the context of current global economic upheavals which have affected trade volumes in all climes, our current growth trajectory is encouraging and gives us confidence to project a revenue growth of over 500 billion with concomitant increase in remittance to CRF by end-of-year 2023, given that shipping activities peak around the second half of the year”
“The smart policy thrust of the new administration which is already throwing up new vistas of growth further lends credence to the feasibility of our projections and gives fillip to our organizational initiatives.”
The MD explained that “The operationalization of Lekki Deep Seaport, expected restoration of the service boat management contract, digitalisation and intensified tightening of collections mechanisms buoys our confidence at meeting and indeed exceeding the revenue projections”.
In the report, NPA said it has completed operations on a total number of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one (1851) vessels for the 1st half of 2023 with a combined Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of fifty-seven million, eight hundred and seventy thousand and eighty-three (57,870,083). Cargo throughput for the period under review stood at 33,895,784 metric tonnes, whilst container traffic was 707,985 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units).
The agency explained that a key indicator of port efficiency is the average turn-around-time (TAT) of vessels which stands at 5.16days.
“This is an improvement and we have put measures in place to surpass in the second half of 2023” Bello Koko said.
“We are poised to transform our projections to actualities. The remaining half of the year 2023 will be focused on finalising financing arrangements for our port rehabilitation drive, conclusion of all digitalisations geared towards improvement of efficiency and collaboration with landlocked neighbouring countries like Niger and Chad with whom we have already opened discussions to patronize our ports as hubs for transshipment cargo”.
The NPA boss concluded the report by remarking that “As a management team, we remain unwavering in our resolve to continuously improving on service excellence, blocking avenues of income leakages, curbing waste and tightening collection mechanisms in a bid to surpass stakeholders’ expectations and support the national economy”.
