ECONOMIC INSIGHT NPA board approves new structure to eliminate redundancy

The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has approved a new organisational structure and the commencement of a business process reengineering initiative to improve efficiency.

Mr Ibrahim Nasiru, the Principal Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications Department of NPA, said in a statement on Saturday in Lagos that the management had also approved the redistribution of all the general managers.

“The far-reaching initiatives which are aimed at making NPA a truly professional and performance-driven organisation were approved at a board meeting in Lagos.

“The management notes that this review has become important because NPA’s structure has remained the same in spite of the 2006 concession, which changed the authority’s status from owner/operator to landlord.

“This change in status brought about the concession of cargo handling operations to the private sector, outsourcing of dredging, towage services, vessel maintenance and use of contractors to build infrastructure,’’ Nasiru said.

He said the board also approved reduction in the number of general managers from 25 to 22; upgrade of Hydrography and Dredging Department to a division status to be headed by a general manager.

Nasiru said that the board also approved the upgrade of the Information and Communications Technology Department into a division to take more responsibilities from departments like Utilities and the creation of a new Monitoring and Regulations Division.

He said that the board has approved the merger of the Capital Projects and Maintenance Divisions into a single Engineering Division to eliminate redundancies; and the scrapping of the Special Duties Division.

Nasiru said the board has scrapped the zonal office structure as every department in the ports would now report directly to the head office.

“Other decisions taken include: a change in the nomenclature of nine departments and divisions including Public Affairs, which will now be known as Corporate Communications.

“Overseas Office (London Office) was changed to International Liaison Office; Capital Projects and Maintenance Divisions now to be known as Engineering Division; and Hydrography & Dredging Department now Hydrography Services Division.