The Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) has commended the appointment of Abubakar Dantsoho as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Dantsoho takes over from Muhammed Bello-Koko, who served as NPA’s Managing Director for three years before his removal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a congratulatory message signed by CONMMEP’s Public Relations Officer, Mcanthony Onuoha, on behalf of the association’s President, Alhaji Tunde Umar-Daniah, the organization expressed confidence in Dantsoho’s ability to leverage his extensive experience to lead the NPA effectively. The statement highlighted the association’s anticipation of innovative leadership and significant contributions to Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The message read: “We, members of the Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners, CONMMEP, wish to congratulate you on your appointment as Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority. Your splendid credentials and years of experience leave no one in doubt of the innovations and other deliverables your administration will bring to the organization and the maritime sector.”
CONMMEP also set an agenda for the new NPA boss, emphasizing the need for Dantsoho to address several critical issues within the sector.
Seven months into the year 2024, the NPA budget has not been released to enable them to run their operations. We urge you to work with the National Assembly to stop these malfeasances.
There are security challenges in the ports of Apapa and Tin-Can Island Complex. CONMMEP suggests that the security architecture in the ports be contracted out to private investors. This will increase confidence in our port system and bring sanity to the ports.
We request that the maritime media be given a slice or percentage of the NPA budget for the capacity building of journalists reporting the sector.
CONMMEP expects you to leave a legacy in office by digitalizing the ports to ensure efficiency, high productivity, and to block revenue leakages. This will enhance the ease of doing business in the ports and improve our international rating.
We advise you to run an open-door administration so that stakeholders, especially journalists, can have access to you for better reporting of your activities. We urge you to dismantle the cartel whereby only ‘highly favoured’ journalists are given premium to cover the activities of the organization.
CONMMEP reiterated its commitment to supporting the NPA and the maritime sector, stating: “As media practitioners, we shall continue to work in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority diligently and in line with the ethics of our revered profession.”
The association concluded by wishing Dantsoho a successful tenure and expressing hope that his administration would be remembered as one of the best in the history of the NPA and the maritime sector.
“Your appointment is well-deserved, and we urge you to bring your wealth of experience to bear as you take charge as the new NPA boss. We wish you a very successful tenure and pray that your administration will go down in history as one of the best things that happened to the organization and the maritime sector.”