By: Felix Ikpotor
The management of the Rivers Port of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has stressed the need for effective partnership with the media for effective coverage of the ports to attract investors.
Manager of Rivers Port, Mr. Adamu Michael made the call in his office in Port Harcourt when members of the Energy Maritime Reporters (EMR) paid him a courtesy call.
Michael who stated that the media is a major stakeholder in the operations of the port also noted that NPA will continue to collaborate with the media for improved results.
He disclosed that the management is working on granting waivers to investors to make the Port Harcourt port boom again.
“Genuine information, objective information can promote the activities of the port. I want to appeal with all of you that collaborating with Port management is key. When you send the wrong signals to investors they won’t like to come around here. We need your support and your experience to ensure we give efficient service delivery to our critical stakeholders. You’re part of ports system and we will ensure greater collaboration and sustained relationship that would improve activities in the port,” he said.
He said that waivers awaited all investors who would do business through the eastern ports, especially those who would export through the terminals, adding that that was part of the steps outlined by the MD of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, during a stakeholders’ interactive session at the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt recently, to stimulate smooth patronage of the eastern ports.
The waivers, he further said, will not be granted only by NPA but also by all other sister agencies operating in the port.
Earlier, the chairman of EMR, Mr Martins Giadom, congratulated the PM on his deployment to Rivers Port.
Giadom expressed the belief that synergy between the port and EMR would help the parties in better discharge of their assignments.
He explained that, as specialized beat reporters covering the energy and maritime sectors of the economy of Nigeria, EMR is a communication asset to NPA, the IOC’s, key federal agencies, host communities and other major stakeholders in the sector, especially with regards to information on the ease of doing business in the eastern ports.
EMR, therefore, suggested the putting in place of corporate social responsibility programmes in host communities and the organization of seminars and workshops on relevant issues in the sector, as well as facility tours for investors and port operators, as viable ways of sensitizing stakeholders on maritime best practices.
