The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has commissioned control towers at the Apapa and Tin-Can ports to improve vessel traffic management, navigation assistance, advance visibility, safety and security, emergency response, communication, resource management and disaster risk mitigation, among others.
Speaking at the commissioning, the managing director of the agency, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko said the newly renovated control towers signpost the authority’s unwavering commitment towards improving operational efficiency through aggressive infrastructure and equipment renewal.
He said multiplicity of functions such as vessel traffic management, navigation assistance, advance visibility, safety and security, emergency response, communication, resource management and disaster risk mitigation, etc, which control towers enable was the reason for equipping the facilities top on the priority list of the management team.
“As most of us are aware, safety and security constitute critical operational preconditions necessary for the actualisation of our strategic intent of becoming the maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services in Africa, which is why we placed high priority on putting in place a modern control tower of this nature in order enhance our domain awareness capability.
“Given the decrepit and non-functional state we met this facility, the decision to invest so much towards making it state-of-the-art and well equipped edifice was made taking cognizance of the need to equip our highly cherished and well trained marine talents with the right tools and comfort required to deliver efficient services to our stakeholders.
“Sustainably providing efficient port service in safe, secure, and customer friendly environment requires that we ensure and assure that we are up to date in terms of skill and equipment, and I will like to assure that beyond this commissioning today, we are resolved to continually equip and re-equip this facility whilst training and re-training its users to be best-in-class.”
“It would be pertinent to mention that we are in partnership with the Nigerian Navy to have our signal stations rehabilitated, re-equipped and located near the naval base for improved communication. Also, we are in partnership with NLNG Ship Management Limited to provide VTS that will ensure improved operational efficiency,” he said.
