The Shippers’ Council is intensifying its campaign to diversify the non-oil sector

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has reiterated its commitment to prioritize the non-oil sector in line with the directives of the Federal Government.

NSC Executive Secretary/Director General, Pius Ukeyima Akutah, reaffirmed this commitment as he led the agency’s leadership team during a two-day working visit to Port Harcourt and Onne ports in Rivers State.

He said the council was working hard to implement the federal government’s order to diversify the country’s economy from the oil sector to the non-oil sector.

The visit gave the NSC boss the opportunity to inspect the Bua Terminal at Rivers Port as well as the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) and the Onne Multi-Purpose Terminal at Onne Port.

Akutah said the federal government aims to transform Nigeria into an investment hub with rail links to reduce transportation costs for investors.

Addressing journalists shortly after inspecting the facilities, Akutah said the essence of the visit was to conduct an on-site assessment of the terminal operators’ facilities.

According to him, the NSC – as the regulatory body for port management – ​​is working with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on port automation to reduce person-to-person contacts and streamline cargo clearance procedures and processes.

He said the NSC was in favor of a bill to transform it into the Nigerian Shipping and Port Management Regulatory Agency.

Akutah said the federal government is committed to creating an enabling environment for investors in the country, which requires regular port visits and engaging stakeholders in trade facilitation.