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| The Representative of the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr. Sokonte Davies (Middle), the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Jesper Kamp (3rd from left), other top Management of the Organization (NPA) and Maersk Nigeria Limited, when the Danish Ambassador paid a courtesy visit to the Management of NPA at the Authority’s Corporate Headquarters in Marina, Lagos |
The Managing Director of theNigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, has expressed the Authority's commitment to providing enabling environment for business to grow in the maritime sector.
She stated this on Tuesday while receiving the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jesper Kamp, who paid her a courtesy visit in the corporate headquarters in Marina.Represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr. Sokonte H. Davies,
she called for continuous engagement on the way forward in the maritime sector.
Dr. Sokonte told the Ambassador that the Authority remained committed to the development of Deep Seaports across Nigeria in line with the development of global economy which is about maritime.
He disclosed that efforts were on-going to increase the depth of the draught of Onne port to eleven{11} meters as a way of encouraging bigger vessels, adding that as a pioneer in the maritime business, the Authority will always tap from the wealth of experience of the Danish government.
Earlier, the Ambassador, had told the Managing Director that his visit was part of his efforts to promote Danish-Nigerian trade relations and attract investment to Nigeria.
Mr. Kamp further said that besides facilitating investment in infrastructure to Nigeria, he had been mobilizing Danish companies to come and invest in Nigeria, as exemplified by MAERSK Line and other companies.
The Ambassador said that Danish government operates thirty commercial vessels in the Gulf of Guinea and therefore his country is concerned about security in the Nigeria maritime domain.
The envoy added that the Danish government was collaborating with NIMASA and IMO on training of marine cadets and maritime security and called on NPA to be part of this collaboration.
In his contribution, the Managing Director of MAERSK Line, Mr Gildas Tohouo, who accompanied the Danish Ambassador thanked the management of Nigerian Ports Authority and other stakeholders for their support for Maersk Line and for efforts at increasing the depth of Onne port.
The Maersk Managing Director also reiterated the willingness of the company to patronize Onne Port the moment the port channel is deepened by additional one meter as being proposed, stressing that the Maersk Line Operation will eventually increase the revenue base of the port by $2M.