By Uche Eletuo
Lagos – The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is to ensure that there is steady electricity supply at the terminals to facilitate trade, the Executive Director, Finance, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko has said.
Bello-Koko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that energy supplies to port facilities was important.
He said that several grey areas of concern to stakeholders would be improved upon with constant power supply to facilities.
“We are looking at a 24-hour cargo clearing time frame as template to drive others.
“If we can get the energy stabilised, things like cargo examination can take place, even in the evening.
“With power supply, several repair and maintenance services of equipment that tends to delay operations in terminals can be carried out in the night,’’ Bello-Koko said.
According to him, the new management of the ports authority is doing everything possible to drive cargo traffic to the ports.
He said that the recent tour of some of the ports by the management had put the management in a proper position to look at areas where the management could intervene.
Bello-Koko said that the NPA would assist in making the ports access roads motorable as one of the driving forces of the port reform.