Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru, has expressed willingness to pay off the N2.1billion debts the national oil company is owing Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The decision to clear the debts which accrued since last year, was a fallout of a recent meeting between the NNPC GMD and his NPA counterpart, Ms.Hadiza Bala Usman at the NNPC Corporate Headquarters.
Baru also assured that the NNPC would subsequently ensure steady and prompt payment for services rendered to it by the NPA while assuring that the corporation may approach the Board of NPA for soft landing on some of the old debts as far back as 20 years ago.
A press statement from NPA said Usman’s visit to the Corporation was borne out of the desire to strengthen the synergy and collaboration between both organisations
She said there was a need for the Corporation to bury its pipelines deeper to allow for effective dredging activities to enable deeper draft for bigger vessels to access Warri and Lagos in a bid to enhance the supply of petroleum products and other larger vessel coming into the country.
Baru commended the NPA for securing the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the dredging of the Escravos channel, stressing that the feat would go a long way in stimulating economic activities in the area.
While commending the NPA Management under Usman for ensuring speedy clearance of Petroleum laden vessels to berth, Baru described her style of Management as “nationalistic”, saying that the NNPC would remain grateful to the NPA for the existing cordial relationship between them in the service of the nation.
