Shippers’ Council boss restates government’s resolve to make Nigeria investment hub
,,,says rail connectivity will.reduce haulage cost.
Segun Oladipupo
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr Ukeyima Akutah has said that the Federal Government is committed to making Nigeria hub for investors in the country,
He also pointed out that rail connectivity would help to reduce the cost of haulage transportation.
While leading agency’s management team on a 2-day working visit to Port Harcourt and Onne ports, he restated Federal Government’s commitment towards prioritizing the non-oil sector diversification.
According to the NSC boss, the agency is working assiduously to actualize the Federal Government’s marching order 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, respectively.
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 the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on port automation in order to reduce human contacts and to clearance of cargo procedures and processes seamless.
The Council’s boss also told the media 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, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’Council., Barr. Akutah also had an interactive session with major stakeholders operating at the Eastern Ports.
In his opening remarks, 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.
He promised that the Eastern ports would not be left out in the FG’s effort to address the decay infrastructure.
