Board Aligns Shippers’ Council With Federal Gov’ts $1trn GDP, 7% Growth Target

The governing board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has pledged its support for the management of the Council in playing a key role in helping the federal government achieve an economic growth target of at least seven per cent by 2027–2028.

Speaking in Lagos at the inaugural meeting of the newly inaugurated board, the board chairman, Dr Ibrahim Shema, said it would also work closely with management to actualise President Bola Tinubu’s target of growing Nigeria’s economy to a one-trillion-dollar GDP by 2030.

Dr Shema, a former governor of Katsina State, noted that achieving the ambitious growth and GDP targets would require sustained effort and commitment from both the board and management.

“It is of significant importance that the Shippers’ Council and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy are determined to support the President’s vision of a one-trillion-dollar economy and seven per cent growth. The Council, the Board and management are hereby called to service. We have a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.

The board chairman stressed that all hands must be on deck for Nigeria to fully harness the potential of the blue economy sector.

According to him, the Council will focus on key initiatives critical to promoting and sustaining the maritime sector’s national and international economic potential, including improving ease of doing business, facilitating trade and commerce, enhancing revenue generation, and strengthening collaboration with stakeholders across the real economy and the maritime industry.

“As demonstrated by the presentation we received this morning, there is a clear need for collective effort if the country is to move towards its full potential in the blue economy sector,” Dr Shema added.

Earlier, the executive secretary of the Council, Dr Pius Akutah, said a collaborative relationship between the board and management would deliver tangible institutional and financial outcomes for the NSC.

He identified key priorities requiring the board’s guidance to include the actualisation of the Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN), and the operationalisation of the one per cent Freight Stabilisation Fee.

“These initiatives are critical to strengthening regulatory clarity, improving cargo visibility, enhancing national security, and securing sustainable revenue for the Council,” Akutah said.

He added that while the task before the Council is significant, there is also a major opportunity to reposition the NSC as a financially resilient and institutionally stronger regulator.

“Management is fully committed to supporting the Board with robust data, sound financial analysis and structured stakeholder engagement to ensure that all initiatives are pursued in a lawful, transparent and stakeholder-responsive manner,” he said.

“With the guidance of this Board, I am confident that we will continue to protect shippers’ interests, promote efficient port operations and contribute meaningfully to national economic growth,” Dr Akutah added.