Shippers’ Council pledges to drive FG’s non-oil sector diversification initiatives

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), has restated its commitment to pioritizing the Federal Government directives on non oil sector diversification.

Executive Secretary/ CEO of the NSC, Barr. Pius Akutah, stated this when he led the agency’s management team on a two- day working visit to Port Harcourt and Onne ports.

He emphasized that that the NSC is working tirelessly to actualize the Federal Government directive to diversify the nation’s economy from oil to non oil sector.

The visit gave the Council’s boss the opportunity to inspect Bua Port Terminal at Rivers Port, Onne Multipurpose Terminal and West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Rivers State.

He stressed that the Federal Government is committed to making Nigeria investment hub for investors in the country, pointing out that the issue of rail connectivity will help to reduce the cost of haulage transportation.

Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection of the facilities, the Executive Secretary said that the essence of the visit was to have an on-the spot assessment of the facilities of the terminal operators.

According to him, NSC as Port Economic Regulator is working with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on port automation in order to reduce human contacts and make cargo clearance procedures and processes seamless.

The Council’s boss also told journalists that the NSC is advocating for the bill which would transform the agency into Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency

Given the Council’s mission at the terminal, Barr. Akutah said the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for investors in the country, as such the need to constantly visit the ports and engage the stakeholders in trade facilitation which is in line with Mr. President’s vision on Ease of Doing Business.

After the facility tours of the ports and terminals, Barr. Akutah also had an interactive session with major stakeholders operating at the Eastern Ports.

The ES/CEO said the essence of the interaction session with stakeholders is to listen to the challenges that are facing their business in- order to proffer solutions to them.

He harped on the benefit of stakeholders’ engagement and promised to ensure the continuity of its collaboration with stakeholders operating at the ports.

Barr. Akutah said the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to strive by addressing decayed infrastructure at the ports, including the Eastern ports.

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