The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, managing director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi said that the Nigerian economy is very buoyant and vibrant, as he embarks on new initiative of redirecting foreign investors’ attention, into Greenfield projects, in the ports’ industry.
The managing director made the observation while hosting the Canadian deputy High Commissioner in his office, in Marina, Lagos.
Highlighting that the country is now at the threshold of a golden age, Habib also assured that the NPA would welcome any genuine foreign investors with the red carpet, particularly Canadian firms wishing to take advantage of the unfolding investment opportunities offered by the successful reforms of the Nigerian port system.
He noted that though the NPA presently has a contract relationship with a Canadian firm handling the proposed 25 years Port master plan alongside some ICT projects, he nonetheless want Canadian firms to further take advantage of the increasingly unfolding opportunities, particularly in the green fields zone, as well as in the areas of capacity building, as related to marine courses towards enabling the organization sustain its International standards status.
Habib assured his Guests that Nigeria Ports Authority is committed to the 25 years port master plan and tasked the Canadian firm handling the master plan to leave no stones unturned in consummating it, as it would chart a more enviable course for the future of the sub region’s port industry.
Mallam Habib equally took advantage of the visit to invite also, the local investors to the ports, stressing that they should not fold their hands, while other investors optimize observable, attractive and robust opportunities.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Lajos Arendas expressed delight on the visit, having just taken over the responsibility and noting that his mission was to further improve the already existing relationship with Nigeria.
According to him, Canada plays host to many Nigerian students and that the visit had posed more challenges to him to seek for more ways to attract Canadian firms into the port industry as the commendable infrastructure development in the ports will attract investments.
The Deputy High Commissioner was accompanied to the visit by Sylvia Koleva and Sarah Branco both trade commissioners.
Meanwhile, Federal government Wednesday said it has plans to stop the importation of rice in the next two years, however stating that the policy would not be enforced until it has developed local industries to produce maximally for local consumption.
The plan was communicated to State House Correspondents by Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari after a joint meeting with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and permanent secretaries of federal ministries at the presidential villa, Abuja.
Yari stated that with the emerging political will power of the present government and the availability of arable land, Nigeria can sustain itself with rice production.
He regretted that so much money had gone into rice importation which he said could be produced locally.
“The meeting was on the new policy on agriculture and food sustainability. We discussed how we can boost rice production in Nigeria and start thinking about how we are going to put policy in place on how rice importation will be banned in the country.
“We have the potential. We have the human resources. We have the arable land to grow rice. In the next two years, we will not need to bring rice from outside Nigeria. We are going to ban it.
“It is only in Nigeria, a country of millions of people, that there is no food security. We discussed the policy with the relevant permanent secretaries and CBN governor.

“The policy is going to be in place and we gave our commitment that we are ready to support the government policy in ensuring that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in food production in the next two years.
“Nigeria is currently a major importer of rice. Now, the political will is in place to stop it. We in about nine states are going to be seriously engaged in massive rice production.
“We are hoping that in the next two years, rice importation into Nigeria will be banned. We are committed and the political will is in place”, Governir Yari said.