The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), over the weekend, stated that the federal government is committed to making Nigeria an investment hub in the continent.
This was disclosed by the executive secretary, Pius Akutah, when he led the agency’s management team on a two-day working visit to Port Harcourt and Onne Ports.
LEADERSHIP reports that 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.
Akutah, also reiterated that the agency is working assiduously to actualise the federal government marching order to diversify the nation’s economy from oil to non oil sector.
“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,” the Shippers’ Council boss stated.
Speaking further, Akutah said the federal government is committed to making Nigeria an investment hub for investors in the country, pointing out that the issue of rail connectivity will help to reduce the cost of haulage transportation.
He said 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 Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on port automation in order to reduce human contacts and to make clearance of cargo procedures and processes seamless.
The Council’s boss also said that the NSC is advocating for the bill which would transform the agency into Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency
After the tours of the ports and terminals, Barr. Akutah also had an interactive session with major stakeholders operating at the Eastern Ports.
Speaking with the stakeholders, the ES said the essence of the interactive session with stakeholders was 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.
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 decaying infrastructure.
