The minister of Marine and Blue Financial system, Adegboyega Oyetola, has commissioned two newly acquired Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugboats for berthing of vessels at Lekki Deep Seaport, Dangote petroleum and fertiliser Refinery.
LEADERSHIP reviews that the acquisition of the marine craft Christened MT IRAGBIJI and MT BAMA, was in continuation of the Nigerian Ports Authority’s (NPA’s) effort at bettering operational effectivity and responding to the worldwide advances in maritime expertise.
Nonetheless, talking on the commissioning of the newly acquired marine craft by NPA, Oyetola, acknowledged that the gear will improve easy berthing and enhanced operations on the Lekki corridors.
He additional acknowledged that the acquisition was inline with the federal government’s efforts to boost port effectivity and strengthen Nigeria’s place as a number one maritime nation within the area.
“This milestone marks one other vital step additional within the authorities’s efforts to boost port effectivity and strengthen Nigeria’s place as a number one maritime nation within the area. The acquisition of those two multi-functional capability tugboats will complement the present fleet of ASD Neoteric 80 Tons Bollard Pull Tugboats. This administration’s dedication to investing within the growth of our maritime belongings is resolute.
“We recognise the crucial position that environment friendly port operations play in accelerating financial progress and can do all that’s required to replace the present services to ship on this. The sleek operation of the Lekki hall, which hosts Nigeria’s totally automated Deep Seaport, Africa’s largest Granulated Urea Fertilizer Complicated, and the Largest Single-train Refinery within the World shall be enhanced by the deployment of those crafts,” he stated
In line with the previous governor of Osun State, the ministry’s objective was to work collectively to make Nigeria a worldwide reference level for excellence in port operations.
He additionally acknowledged that the ministry would religiously implement all the important thing elements of the port operations to make the ports aggressive, environment friendly and efficient.
“We’re decided to optimise our aggressive edge as a littoral nation and deepen our efficiencies by the deployment of cutting-edge expertise and gear. As we transfer ahead, we’ll proceed to assist inter-agency collaborations and encourage revolutionary options to drive commerce facilitation and nationwide prosperity. Our collective objective is to work collectively to make Nigeria a worldwide reference level for excellence in port operations,” he ended.
Talking earlier, the managing director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, stated with internet hosting of Lekki port, Dangote refinery and fertiliser vegetation, the Lekki hall has change into a hub for actualising Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in power, agricultural progress and commerce transshipment capability.
He, nevertheless assured that the newly deployed Marine craft will positively have an effect on the turnaround time of huge vessels because the deployment would allow stakeholders leverage the concomitant advantages of economies of scale, particularly value financial savings
“This event is a part of the fulfilment of our deliverables beneath the Presidential, Ministerial Efficiency Bond to optimise Nigeria’s marine and blue economic system by offering related marine expertise and gear to assist port safety, patrol, surveillance and most significantly ship environment friendly pilotage and towage providers to assist the rising cargo evacuation wants of the Lekki maritime hall.
“The Lekki hall has change into a hub for actualizing Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in power, agricultural progress and commerce transshipment capability with its internet hosting of a 650,000 Barrels-Per-Day Dangote Refinery, Africa’s Largest Granulated Urea Fertilizer Complicated and Nigeria’s first totally automated Deep Seaport which has capability to berth Tremendous Submit Panamax Dimension Ships.
“With the info for Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals exhibiting that 120 Tanker Vessels have been dealt with within the six months’ interval from January – June 2024 with a projection for 415 between July to December, while Dangote Fertilisers have dealt with 17 Fertiliser Vessels with a projection for 41 within the corresponding interval, we’re by this commissioning and ancillary deployments placing mechanisms in place to cater for steady improve going ahead.
“Along with positively affecting the turnaround time of huge vessels, their deployment will allow stakeholders to leverage the concomitant advantages of economies of scale, particularly value financial savings,” he acknowledged.
Additionally talking, comptroller basic of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, stated Customs has discovered it comfy to work with the NPA to develop the export sector, automate Customs processes, decongest the port, and guarantee port effectivity.
In line with him, the collaboration between Customs and NPA has began yielding good fruits because the NPA and the Customs have been not too long ago ranked excessive by the Presidential Enabling Enterprise Atmosphere Council (PEBEC) according to the imaginative and prescient of the current administration to reposition the Nigerian maritime sector.
He assured that Customs would do all inside its capability to stay on prime of ease of doing enterprise rating for the expansion of the maritime trade.
On his half, the director basic of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Security Company (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, lauded the NPA and Minister of the Marine and Blue Financial system for the main position performed in driving environment friendly service supply within the nation’s port trade.
He stated commerce facilitation comes with effectivity and solely environment friendly service supply would allow Nigeria to regain cargo misplaced to neighbouring West African ports.
