Ministry of Transportation, NPA begins assessment of IOCs, Jetties operators
By Uzor Odigbo
Indications are rife that the Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is to embark on direct assessment of all jetties and International Oil Companies (IOC) facilities across the country from May 8th, 2023.
This was part of the resolutions reached at a stakeholders meeting held on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023 between the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), International Oil Companies (IOCs),Stevedoring Operators of Nigeria and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
Others present at the meeting includes; Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS) and Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS)
In a press statement issued on Saturday by Media officer of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Kennedy Ikemefuna, the meeting was called by the Minister of Transportation Eng Muazu Jaji Sambo to settle the lingering disputes between the IOC’s and government appointed stevedoring companies
In the statement, the union Spokesman said; “During the meeting, the following resolutions were reached thus:-
1)Operationalization of the NPA appointed Stevedoring Operators at the Chevron Jetty, Warri by May 2, 2023.
2) Other IOCs were given up to May 8, 2023 for full Operationalization of appointed Stevedores.
3) The President of the Stevedoring Association of Nigeria should work on continuous capacity building for their members; and
4) The Ministry in conjunction with NPA should arrange a visit to some of the Jetties for an on-the-spot-assessment of the level of compliance of the IOCs and Jetties Operators immediately after May 8, 2023.
“However, these resolutions were taken by all the Stakeholders in attendance with very strong conviction that these resolutions as aforementioned will be implemented to the letters as raised and signed”