Belgium Government Interested In Development Of Nigeria On Seaport

Apapa Port in Lagos State

Belgium has expressed its willingness to partner the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in its quest to develop and modernise the Nigeria’s seaports to make them more efficient and user-friendly.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Nigeria, His Excellency, Daniel Bertrand, who spoke in Lagos said he was pleased with the recent reforms being carried out by the management of the authority at the seaports, which according to him have tremendously enhanced efficiency.

The NPA had intensified efforts to automate the port systems, improve traffic flow in and out of the ports as well as the introduction of multimodal transport system in the movement of cargo through the use of barges to move laden and empty containers to enhance speed.

Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, who was on ground to accord a warm reception to the Ambassador, assured that the management under his watch is poised to transforming Nigeria’s port system to make the seaports globally competitive.

Bello-Koko also assured the visiting Ambassador that the authority and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria are open to partnerships and synergies towards developing the seaports even the more, arguing that no man can possibly be an island unto himself.

It is on record that Port of Antwerp, Europe’s second largest seaport after Rotterdam, is one of the most efficient seaports in the world and is owned by the Kingdom of Belgium. Nigeria’s landlord port model adopted after the port reform programme in 2006 is fashioned after that of the Antwerp Port.

Related posts