Section 8: Powers of the Authority

The Authority shall have power to-(a) construct, execute, carry out, equip, improve, work and develop ports, docks, harbours, piers, wharves, canals, water courses, embankments and jetties.
(b) invest and deal with the monies of the Authority not immediately required on such securities or in such investments and manner as may, from time to time be expedient;
(c) erect, construct. lay down, enlarge, maintain and alter any building, erection and work which may seem directly or indirectly necessary or convenient for any of its purposes;
(d) act as consultants and advisers in relation to ports and port operations in Nigeria or in any part of the world;
(e) carry on the business of carrier by land or sea, stevedore, wharfinger, warehouseman or lighterman or any other business desirable for the functions of the Authority;
(f) acquire any undertaking of any registered business that affords facilities for the loading,unloading or warehousing of any goods in any port in Nigeria;
(g) appoint, license and manage pilots of vessels;
(h) insure all goods and consignments that are in the custody of the Authority;
(i) control the erection and use of wharves in any port or its approaches;
(j) buy any property, and sell, let, lease or otherwise dispose of any property, which appears to the Authority to be unnecessary for its purposes;
(k) enter into agreement with any person for the supply construction, manufacture, maintenance or repair by that person of any property, movable or immovable, necessary for the purposes of the Authority;
(l) enter into agreement with any person for the operation or the provision of any of the port facilities which may be operated or provided by the Authority;
(m) provide, appoint, license and regulate weighers and meters for measuring goods in any port in Nigeria;
(n) reclaim, excavate, enclose, raise or develop any of the lands acquired by or vested in the Authority;
(o) win sand from the ports and their approaches for such purposes as it may deem fit;
(p)
do anything for the purpose of advancing-
(i) the skills of persons employed by the Authority; or
(ii) the efficiency of the equipment of the Authority or of the manner in which that equipment is operated, including the provision by others of the facilities for training, education and research;
(q) provide residential accommodation, houses, hostels and other like accommodation for its deserving employees on terms and conditions to be determined, from time to time, by the authority in order to promote the welfare of its employees;
(r) purchase, take on lease or in exchange or otherwise acquire, hold. manage, work, develop the resources of and turn to account any estate, land, building, tenement, and other real property of any description, including leasehold or other tenure and wheresoever situate and any interest therein and any right connected therewith, and in particular, to acquire or take over estates situated, in Nigeria.
(s)
grant loans to its deserving and needy employees for the purposes specifically approved by the authority on such terms and conditions to be determined by the authority at its discretion and in such a manner as is likely to increase the effectiveness of such employees in their service to the authority, or otherwise for the purpose of the functions of the Authority;
(t) provide loans to any of its employees for the purpose of-
(i) building a house; ,
(ii) purchasing a plot of land on which to build a house; and
(iii) purchasing a house for the employee's use or for the residential use of the employee's family, on such terms and conditions to be determined by the Authority, at its discretion;
(u) fabricate and repair vessels, engines, boilers and all items being used in vessels;
(v) carry on the business of ship builders, engineers and manufacturers of machinery;
(w) purchase or otherwise acquire, take on lease, construct, maintain, work and use wet and dry docks, ships, quays, wharves, piers, warehouses, buildings, yards and every kind of property, structure, appliance and anything necessary for equipping, salvaging and assisting ships;
(x) form, establish or incorporate subsidiaries or affiliate,companies, whether wholly or jointly, with other persons or organisations for the purpose of carrying out any of the functions of the Authority; and
(y) do such other things as are necessary for the successful, performance of its functions under this Act.