The process of procreation as explained scientifically and scripturally explains that the opportunity to make the cut of life is divine and a rare chance given to serve God and impact humanity. Many a time when I look at humanity and existence in detail during my daily prayers, my assessment of every happening/occurrence around me draws back to the benevolence of my creator on his servants with myself inclusive, granting us the wherewithal to face life, excel in it in all ramifications, and still return to Him in the most worthy form to be a participant in His paradise. For the fact that not all of His servants are granted the opportunity to make exploits in life, but being among the few He chooses to be recipients of His favours must forever heap His praises to the highest heavens. I say Alhamdulilah.
On January 4, 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved and announced the appointment of some Executive Directors for agencies under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy – Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. Luckily, I was one of those privileged in the list, to later become the Executive Director (Marine and Operations) of the NPA, through the support and strong RECOMMENDATION of my mentor, leader and boss, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola – The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Precisely a year ago today, January 22, I resumed work and spent the first few weeks receiving guidance and tutelage from those I met on ground and the former MD of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello Koko. I resumed work to drive the mandate of our leader, the Honourable Minister drawing from the huge inspiration of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The last one year has been full of stories; from every regard – Politics, Governance, Societal Impact, Community Development, Personal Development and many more. I cannot forget in a hurry the wild jubilation and the gale of prayers and celebration galore that greeted my appointment and subsequent resumption. I was astonished when I saw the huge crowd that welcomed me back to Osogbo, on my first trip back to the state after my appointment. I cannot thank our people both in Osogbo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the good people of Osun State, enough for their gift and depth of prayers from last year till date. It has been love all the way. May Allah continue to bless and enrich our lives.
With the guidance of our leader and mentor, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola who gave all of us performance bonds, we all swung to work and to the glory of God, we have been able to put in place strategies and policy ideas on how to reform and strengthen the Marine Industry in Nigeria for better and optimum performance. Heartwarming the most is that almost all of our partners and clients at the level of NPA have complied with the Renewed Hope Agenda and are following suit which has increased in a great deal our annual turnover and will continue to get better.
Since joining the services of the Nigerian Ports Authority, we have deployed experience and burning desire for the success of President Tinubu led administration’s renewed hope agenda by consolidating on sustained economic drivers in the following areas:
1. Export Promotion: Our ideas have midwifed efficient operations of Export Processing Terminals supervised by the Marine & Operations directorate wherein the Authority provides facilities for export consolidation, packaging, documentation and unhindered access to the ports once the cargo leave the export terminals. The progress recorded is supported by reports from data churned out by Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in the last 2 quarters of year 2024 where the country recorded balance of trade supplies for the first time in decades;
2. Stevedoring Operations: Our diligent intervention and consistent engagement with non-compliant companies, has led to a significant increase in revenue;
3. Shipping and Logistics: We have turned round the time of vessels within acceptable international practice of 2 days for container ships. We have also intensified efforts at ensuring free flow of traffic in and out of the ports of Lagos which has hugely contributed to increased productivity and growth to the nation’s economy from the Maritime sector;
4. We have also in the last one year succeeded with appreciable growth in multimodalism through the increased uses of in-land water ways for cargo redistribution through Barges as well as an intensified use of rail for same purposes.
5. Stakeholders Engagement: We have engaged all stakeholders – the Port Managers, Trucking Companies, IOCs and all concerned individuals in maritime business to key into Mr. President’s agenda.
We have through our vast experience in the private sector and business strengthened the bond with our partners all over the world to adapt to the global best practices on maritime management, control, upgrade of facilities at our ports, and advance the ease of doing businesses in our sector.
In the last 365 days, I have in the company of my amiable Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantosho, toured all our facilities across the country, assessed the situation of things, attended seminars and workshops in and outside the country to acquire more knowledge as well as contributed hugely to the policy direction of the NPA which is daily yielding fruits for the sector.
Since leadership and positions of authority are for solid imprints in the lives of many, this account of stewardship is one that draws inspiration from my mentor’s gospel of societal emancipation, development oriented governance and people centric vision for prosperity.
I cannot but thank everyone who has continued to share in this vision. By the grace of God and support of all Nigerians, President (Asiwaju) Bola Ahmed Tinubu will succeed.
God Bless Nigeria!!!!
– Engr. Olalekan AbdulRahman Badmus (FNSE), a former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties who also doubled as the former Supervising Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Home Affairs in Osun State, is the current Executive Director, Marine and Operations at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and a mentee of H.E Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola.