The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has restated its commitment towards prioritising the non-oil sector in line with the directives of the Federal Government.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of NSC, Pius Ukeyima Akutah restated this commitment when he led the agency’s management team on a two-day working visit to Port Harcourt and Onne ports in Rivers State.
He said that the council is working hard to actualize the Federal Government’s marching order to diversify the nation’s economy from oil to non-oil sector.
The visit gave the NSC boss the opportunity to inspect Bua Terminal at Rivers Port as well as West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) and Onne Multipurpose Terminal both at Onne Port.
Akutah said the Federal Government is committed to making Nigeria an investment hub with rail connectivity to reduce the cost of haulage transportation for investors.
Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection of the facilities, Akutah 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 the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on port automation in order to reduce human contacts and improve clearance of cargo procedures and processes.
He said the NSC is advocating for a bill to transform it into the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency.
Akutah said the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for investors in the country, which necessitates regular visits to the port and engagement of stakeholders in trade facilitation.