Why Shippers Council Reopened Niger Office

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has explained why the council reopened its area office in Minna, the Niger State capital three years after it was shut.

The executive secretary of the council, Emmanuel Jime, said the Minna Area Office was reopened to open up many economic opportunities especially with the coming of Baro Inland Port.

He said the Minna Area Office was shut in March 2020 in compliance with the directive of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, mandating her agencies to reduce overhead cost.

Jime declared that “The reason for the re-opening of Minna Area Office was informed by the economic potentials of the state and the presence of active shippers within Niger State and its environs. The state is well known for the abundance of cash crops with high exportable values such as cashew nut, shea butter, ginger, yam, etc. Also, mineral resources like coal, iron ore, tin, uranium, gold, gypsum, salt, silver are found in commercial quantities in the state.”

“Nevertheless, having carefully considered the economic viability and potentials of Niger State and its environs, particularly with the growing clusters of export processing companies in the zone, the Council re-considered the need for the resumption of her activities and services in Niger State,” he added.

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He said it is meant to ensure accessibility to quality shipping services and provision of trade related information to stakeholders in Niger State in view of the expected operation at the Baro Port.

Jime recalled that the Minna Area office was first commissioned in 1999 and was attending to the needs and aspirations of stakeholders in Niger and some parts of FCT before it was shut down.

Niger State governor Abubakar Sani Bello represented by the secretary to the state government (SSG) Ahmed Matane lauded the reopening of the office and assured of the state government’s support.