The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman has unveiled modern pollution and environmental equipment including drones, jet skies and booms for surveillance, monitoring and containing oil spillages on the waterways.
Other equipment unveiled includes blowers, pressure washers, skimmers, power pack absorbers and multiple dispersant sprays.
Mrs Usman also pledged the NPA’s commitment and continued support in the area of capacity building towards greater efficiency and service delivery.
She spoke at the passing out ceremony of 125 Officers of Squad 49 of Fire Service Department of the Authority.
Mrs Usman expressed excitement at the fact that 21 out of the Squad are women, stressing that it is an indication that women are beginning to see the value of breaking the barriers of limitation that the society has placed on them.
According to her, NPA was aware of the numerous challenges in today’s business environment and would ensure that it works towards realizing its mission statement of providing efficient port services in a safe, secure and customer-friendly environment.
She charged the new officers to join the pool of vast professionals in the organisation to deliver better service to the port industry.
The NPA boss said the ancillary skills acquired by the officers like swimming and water rescue, articulated vehicle driving, road traffic crash rescue and first aid treatment were critical ingredients for professionalism, adding that NPA management would ensure “they impact meaningfully in the system”.
Mrs Usman also pledged commitment and support to the Fire Service Department at delivering plausible services in line with industry standards, stating that NPA pays premium to best practices.
She said, “Our objective is to modernize and transform operational services to enshrine efficient and quality services.”
