By Ngozi Onyeakusi

The Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman, has assured the agency’s resolve to achieving the ISO 9001 and the OHSAS 18001 certification and compliance especially in its harbour services.

In order to achieve this, the NPA MD has issued a 90-day marching order to the relevant divisions and departments in the agency to meet the requirements needed to ensure the successful attainment of the ISO 9001 certification project within the harbour services of the agency, a statement from the firm announced on Wednesday.

Bala-Usman was speaking at a management awareness workshop on the ISO 9001 and the OHSAS 18001 certification managed by the Renner & Renner Training & Consultancy Services, according to the statement signed by the agency’s Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Isah Suwaid.

She implored all top cadre management officers of the authority to fully identify with the management’s vision of achieving the ISO certification while also enjoining all workers to be committed to the total success of the project so that the ports would be seen to be contributing positively to the nation’s economy.

She urged the consultant to be open and frank in the conduct of the project by addressing all the issues involved, adding that the management will be guided by the outcome of the workshop in its ISO compliance and certification drive.

On the implementation and sustenance of the ISO project, the NPA boss explained that the management would strictly adhere to the timeline and effective tracking to ensure that all aspects of the project were adequately covered.

The Project Manager, Ibby Iyama, who gave insights into the content of the project, suggested a change of processes within the harbour services of the authority as part of efforts geared towards attaining the ISO certification.

She explained that the service was at the centre of the project, which would also cover the four pilotage districts and the Communication, Command, Control and Intelligence (3C1) centre.

She said the benefits of achieving the ISO certification were improved financial performance, quick turnaround time, improved traffic and business processes and other quality services to clients.

Similar awareness workshop would be held in all port locations in Lagos, Rivers, Calabar and Warri, within the next two weeks, the the statement added, saying that the port managers, harbour masters, senior pilots and health safety and environment officers, would be in attendance.