The rich history of Nigerian Ports Authority dates back to April 1955 when it started operating, following the implementation of the Ports Act of 1954. Just as Customs is key to manning the road borders of the Nation, so also is NPA to the sea-borders of Nigeria. Nigeria Ports Authority effectively and efficiently administers ports in Nigeria.
In other words, the administration of seaports in Nigeria rests solely on the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). Therefore, the Port Authority plays an integral role in the economic and trade development of Nigeria.
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), under Hadiza Bala-Usman, has transformed the nation’s ports, which are now attractive to investors. The benefit of this, is the growth it would impact on the nation’s revenue through international trade.
Under her leadership, NPA commissioned its Command and Control Communication and Intelligence Centre. This will serve as surveillance of all activities and as an information network centre for security agencies in the ports.
NPA also acquired and commissioned four new tug boats namely MT Daura, MT Ubima, MT Uromi and MT Majiya for improvement of operational efficiency. Through her administration as the MD, NPA is working assiduously to procure functional equipment in the ports to enhance speedy cargo handling, as well as building more warehouses/storage facilities, to accommodate incoming and outgoing goods and services.
The NPA under Madam Usman has upgraded the 25-year Port Development Master Plan and transformed the Authority’s manpower development practices to improve the skill, knowledge and capacity of employees.
Born January 2, 1976 in Zaria, Kaduna State, Hadiza Bala Usman has made a lasting impression as the woman in charge at NPA with impressive policies that could move the Agency forward. She was appointed as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in July 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
She accomplished the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMWH) for the reconstruction of the port access road and commissioned a Simulator Centre for the training of our pilots, which have enabled us to train 96 pilot trainees within four months.
Usman has worked harmoniously with major stakeholders in the maritime industry, assuring them that the Authority would explore optimally the area of revenue generation and job creation to the benefits of the Nigerian populace across board.
Under her, the agency has vigorously enforced all standards for greater efficiency and service delivery, improving safety, environmental protection and operational efficiency.
NPA under the former Chief of Staff to Kaduna State Governor, is experiencing reduced operational expenses, better management control, increased customer satisfaction, improved customer service and most importantly our port is now attractive to investors for national growth and developments.
In the beginning, the public corporation managed only the Lagos and Port Harcourt ports while some private companies managed the remaining Nigerian ports. In addition to managing cargo handling, quay and berthing facilities at the Lagos and Port Harcourt ports, the initial law also gave it the responsibility of managing harbours and approaches to all ports in the country. By 1963 the firm had grown successfully, it was operating a cargo ship from Lagos to Port Harcourt and also began dredging the Bonny terminal for oil operations. In the same year, the firm issued a £4.3 million loan stock in London.
From 1962 – 1968, under the Nigerian Development plan, the length of the quays was expanded and additional warehouses and cargo handling equipment were added. During the Nigerian Civil War that lasted from 1967-1969, only the Lagos Port was functioning and some parts of the port in Port Harcourt was damaged. In 1969, a new decree added Burutu, Calabar and Warri ports to its jurisdiction. The firm took control of the Warri port from John Holt and Burutu from UAC. However, by the early 1970s, the Lagos port was battling congestion.
In 1973, the corporation entered into an agreement with the World Bank to finance expansion of facilities within the ports.
The Nigerian Ports Authority controls eight (8) major ports excluding oil terminals with a cargo handling capacity of about 35 million tons per annum.
Before the implementation of the reform of the sector by the Federal Government in 2006 through the concession of the ports to terminal operators, the sector was faced with numerous challenges, which did not allow for operators to function at optimal capacity in line with international best practices. However, the NPA under Madam Hadiza has recorded tremendous progress at all fronts. Now, the sector competes favourably within Sub-Saharan Africa, Gulf of Guinea and most importantly before the international community.
With her good style of leadership, Hadiza Usman has encouraged port workers, whose roles cannot be undermined in achieving major objectives for which sea ports are established in Nigeria.
Since she came in, there have been different developmental processes at sea ports in Nigeria, making them a strategic base for the nation’s economic development.
Although Nigeria Ports Authority operates under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Transport with the responsibility of providing specific ports and harbour services for the country’s maritime industry, the tremendous roles Mrs. Hadiza Bala Usman has played can not be undermined.
A graduate of Business Administration, from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Mrs. Usman also holds a MA in Development Studies at the University of Leeds, UK.
Her in-depth wealth of experience has taken her across many strata, starting from Centre for Democratic Development and Research Training [CEDDERT] Zaria, a Non-Governmental Organization in June 1999- June 2000 as a Research Assistant. Following which she worked at the Bureau of Public Enterprise [BPE], the agency charged with the implementation of the privatisation programme of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from July 2000- August 2004 as an Enterprise Officer.
She was then hired by the UNDP for the Federal Capital Territory Administration [FCTA] from October 2004 – January 2008 as a Special Assistant to the Minister on Project Implementation.
From 2011 to July 2015 she was appointed as Chief of staff of Kaduna state, an appointment she held before her appointment as MD NPA on July 11th, 2016.
In July 2015, she was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the Kaduna State Governor.
She was appointed in September 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve as a Member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption.
In April 2014, she co-founded the global movement #BringBackOurGirls which has been demanding for the rescue of the 219 young girls abducted by the terrorist group Boko Haram from Chibok Secondary School in Borno State, North East Nigeria.
Though developing nations of the world are presently faced with the challenges of industrial growth and development, which can be assessed through the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country. Nigeria is not an exception, therefore, relevant authorities need to tap from the numerous potentials, so that Nigeria could benefit from its location within Sub-Saharan Africa.
