Nigeria - The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engr. Omar Suleiman has urged the Port Industry Anti-corruption Standing Committee to establish a strong presence in the ports to make it easy to win the fight against corruption in the nation's port industry. Addressing the eight-member committee on a courtesy call in his office at the Marina, Lagos, Engr Suleiman said now that NPA operates as landlord to concessionaires in the industry, there is very serious need to align the anti-corruption committee with the concessionaires to make them more effective.

A statement by Chief M.K. Ajayi, General Manager, Public Affairs of NPA, said the managing director also advised the committee to expand its membership to include clearing agents and more uniformed agencies to make the committee's job easier, as the individual members will enlighten the agencies from which they were drawn into the committee.

Earlier in her speech, the chairperson of the committee, Mrs Enoche Ogenyi apologised for the late presentation of its 2011 budget, blaming the delay on the late approval of 2010 budget.

Mrs. Ogenyi added that they have held meetings with representatives of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to eliminate corruption from the operations at the ports, having re-strategised to be focused and more effective this year.

The committee members were, Sunday Okpor, Alh. Abayomi Adigun and Mrs Shade Lawal Itam. Others were, Mrs Shade Lawal- Onabamiro, Pastor Coker Aduramo, Mr Ajegbile R. Adetunji and Mr M.F.K Oladeinde.

She asked for support to organise the 4th Maritime Stakeholders Forum planned for next October and sponsorship for the committee members to participate in the biennial International Anti-corruption Conference organised by Transparency International.

Andrew Utulu

Daily Independent/11/03/2011