Mr. Stanley Magaji Yitnoe has formally taken over the reins of office as the new Port Manager, Onne Port Complex, Rivers State. Yitnoe’s emergence was sequel to the deployment of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Headquarters, Marina, Lagos.
This is coming on the heels of the recent shake off carried out by the management of the authority. The shake off led to the change of batons in some key areas in the Federal Ministry of Transportation grade ‘A’ parasatal.
Following the development, a handing over ceremony took place at the Port Conference Room of the Administrative Building, Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT) with Head of Departments and other stakeholders in attendance.
Yitnoe who grew through the ranks at the NPA was hitherto the Technical Assistant to the Managing Director on Marine and Operations.
In his remarks at the occasion, Dantsoho welcomed his successor just as he noted that Onne Port was a family port.
He assured his successor of the co-operation of all the departments, expressing gratitude to the way the workforce had supported him during his stay in office.
The outgoing Port Manager hailed the port contributions in terms of revenue to Federal Government by about 35 percent growth in container traffic just as he applauded the staff for their contributions in maintaining the port as one of the biggest revenue generation agencies of the government.
“Revenue generation to Federal Government from Onne Port is heavy. I am sure that Onne Port will continue to shine even with the incoming Port Manager”, he added.
He attributed the uniqueness of Onne Port to the high number of oil vessels calling at the port, cargo berthing including container cargo and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) operations in Bonny Island, Rivers State.
He used the occasion to appeal to the new Port Manager to continue to interface with stakeholders in order to find amicable resolution of issues, so as to improve the usual co-operations amongst organizations.
Yitnoe in his response applauded Dantsoho and the Heads of Departments (HODs) for the warm reception accorded him.
The Head, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, Onne Port Complex, Mrs. Barbara Ejemeh Nchey-Achukwu in a statement made available to Maritime Bits acknowledged Onne Port as not only a cash cow for the authority but a a leader in cargo throughput.
Yitnoe was quoted in the statement saying that as employees of NPA, we all are privileged to be part of the organization at this present period, and urged all to put in their best to ensure NPA achieves her set goals, especially in revenues generation.
According to him, although revenue generation should be a feat to be proud of, we should be mindful that these are critical times for the authority and industry and by extension, the nation, because we are the veritable gateway to the nation’s economy.
He explained that in spite of the prevailing challenges in the economy and its impact on our individual well-being, staffs of the NPA are relatively better off than other Nigerians.
He stated that going by the trend of disturbing developments, that privileged condition may not last long, he therefore advised that all must raise the bar on performance.
While pointing out that Onne Port Complex is basically a landlord port with some responsibility for marine services, he averred that its main residual functions are monitoring and regulatory services.
In order to execute these main functions of the complex, he enjoined the staff to be on top of their game as a team.
“We must be diligent and consistent in record keeping”, he added.
According to him, it is on the basis of sound information that accurate management decisions can be taken and other support departments deployed to function well.
While applauding Onne Port for its unity and integration as family port, he assured the staff that already the Acting Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko is working assiduously to address staff welfare issues, even as he was fighting to block revenue leakages and improve revenue.
He note that the long stay of some staff in Onne Port could be beneficial where their knowledge of the local environment and contacts could be used as an asset to foster peace and harmony for the port.
Mrs. Nchey-Achukwu in her goodwill message applauded the performance of Dantsoho for making great impact in transformation from manual uploading of manifest to electronic process at WACT through the help of the NPA boss.
She said Dantsoho did well in handling security matters, host community engagements and helped Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT) operations come into existence, among others.
The Chairman, Senior Staff Association (SSA) of NPA Onne Port, Comrade Ebenezer Ajayi and the Secretary, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Thomas Ameze in their separate remarks applauded Dantsoho for the strides he made while in office even as they described him as “friendly Port Manager”..
While reiterating their readiness to support his successor, they appealed for the sustainability of workers welfare that has been put in place in the Onne Port Complex to ensure the delivery of set goals and objectives.
