Shippers’ Council Engaging BoI In Funding As Operators Push For Baro Port Activation

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has disclosed that the Council is open to engaging financial institutions, including the Bank of Industry (BoI), to explore loan arrangements that could support infrastructure development and ease access to funding for shippers.

The executive secretary of the Council, Dr Pius Akutah, made this known when executives of the Abuja Shippers’ Association (ASA) paid a courtesy visit to the Council’s Abuja Liaison Office.

Akutah explained that although the Baro Inland Port remains a strategic asset for decongesting seaports and reducing logistics costs, its full operationalisation would require extensive dredging, making the project capital-intensive.

The Shippers’ Council boss also stated that it is collaborating with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to improve rail transport infrastructure and enhance cargo movement across the country.

Earlier, the President of the Abuja Shippers’ Association, Mr John Ugwu, outlined the major challenges confronting shippers, noting that excessive dependence on seaports and poor road infrastructure continue to hamper efficient cargo movement.

Ugwu stressed the need for a functional national rail network and the activation of the Baro Inland Port, arguing that these would significantly reduce logistics costs and improve ease of doing business. He also lamented the difficulty shippers face in accessing affordable financing.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of the Council’s Abuja Liaison Office, Dr. Pauline Osasona, highlighted the benefits of joining a Shippers’ Association, which she said include effective advocacy, trade facilitation, capacity building, and networking opportunities within the maritime and logistics value chain.

She encouraged shippers to leverage the platform to collectively address industry challenges and engage relevant government agencies more effectively.