The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has embarked on safe measures to prevent and possibly curtail any case of coronavirus through the nation’s seaports.
The Managing Director, NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman while speaking at a sensitisation workshop on coronavirus at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC), said the authority would leave no stone unturned to ensure the disease does not spread through the maritime sector.
She said: “We are aware that the virus is spreading around the world in a rapid form and there is a need for us to contain it. The first thing to do is have precautionary measures to ensure it doesn’t spread,”
Bala Usman, who was represented by General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, Adams Jatto, said that measures such as the use of hand sanitisers and facemask, among others, have been deployed.
She noted that the ports have been diligently involved in ensuring the health of its populace is priotised.
General Manager, Medical Services, NPA, Christy Akpa, noted that the NPA is capable of handling any suspected case of coronavirus, as measures have been put in place to manage any incidence.
She said: “We are collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Government. We are presently screening temperature of everyone coming in through the seaports and working in collaboration with Port Health to ensure that all crew members are administered the passenger declaration form,”
Akpa further explained that the medical service of NPA has developed a weekly log, which contains travel history, bearing in mind the incubation period of the virus, for daily monitoring.
On vessels coming in through the ports, she noted that any captain who records a suspected case has been mandated to alert everyone by flying two yellow flags.