Funso Olojo 
The immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, has given account of his stewardship as he handed over the baton of leadership to his successor, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho.
The handover took place on Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at the headquarters of the agency in Lagos.
Taking to his X handle, an excited Koko said he had left behind legacy projects and built a legacy of unprecedented revenue generation which he hopes his successor will build on and surpass.
“I handed over the mantle of leadership to my successor, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho having served for eight years—first, as Executive Director, Finance & Administration, and later, as acting Managing Director and as the substantive Managing Director.

“The handover note carefully documented accounts of our operations and stewardship.

“We raised the bar higher than we met it and built a legacy of unprecedented growth in revenue generation and remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF); from revenue of ₦381 billion in 2022 and ₦501 billion in 2023 to ₦541 billion in the first half of 2024 and remittances to CRF increasing from ₦93.4 billion in 2022 to ₦206 billion in 2023 and to ₦255 billion in the first half of 2024—surpassing our year-on-year total revenue generation and remittances.

“Since port authorities run on an input-output model, we cleared the decade-long Apapa – Tincan – Mile 2 traffic for landside operations and provided tugboats, mooring boats, pilot cutters, bollards, fenders across all port locations for effective seaside operations, maximized crane productivity and ensured a reduced transit time for vessels and trucks.

“These led to a reduction in both the vessel and truck turn-around times.

 “The vessel TAT went down from an average of 6.5 days to an average of 5 days, while truck TAT went from an average of 10 days to a few hours.

“The FEC approval to expand Snake Island in a PPP arrangement to decongest the Tincan & Apapa ports and a willing private investment of $300m is one of the many approvals we pulled for port expansion and development.

 “Others include the ports of Ondo, Burutu, and Badagry deep seaports.

“We have also completed some key projects that are ready for commissioning.

 “These projects are crucial to staff development and improved efficiency.
 “Some of them include;
• The staff clinic at Lagos Port Complex.
• The inter-agency building at TinCan Island Port will accommodate agencies in the port in one place to enhance operational efficiency.
“• Security mobile scanners at the Lagos Port Complex.
• Administrative buildings of the Tincan, Warri, and Rivers Ports.
“• Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria’s Headquarters.
• Upgraded Revenue Invoicing Management System (RIMS 2.0).
• Employee’s electronic medical records management.”Some other projects have reached advanced levels of approval or are at the procurement stage. These include;
• The Vessel Tracking System.
• The Port Community System.
• The development of a 25-year National Ports Master Plan.
• The Port Modernization Project.
• The surveys and rebuilding of the Escravos breakwaters and more…”In retrospect, there are areas we could have done better.
“However, given the resources and time constraints, we were able to institutionalize organizational culture, promote efficiency, implement key port reforms, and adhere to international best practices.

“We hope and pray that the incoming management continues on this trajectory and exceeds our achievements.

“In the next couple of weeks, I will take a break to catch up with friends, watch movies, read more books, and reflect on the journey ahead.

“Nonetheless, I will always be available to offer a helping hand when needed” he declared.