Shippers’ Council Re-commit To FG Directives  On Non-oil Sector  Diversification

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has restated its commitment to prioritize the diversification of the non oil sector in line with the Federal Government policy thrust.

Disclosing above during a 2-day working visit to Port Harcourt and Onne ports, NSC Executive Secretary/CEO, Barr. Pius Akutah MON, said  the agency is working assiduously to actualize the Federal Government marching order to diversify the nation’s economy from oil to non oil sector.

Head of Public Relations Department of NSC, Mrs. Rebecca Adamu in a release made available to Pinnacle Time added 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), respectively, all in Rivers State.

According to the Executive Secretary, the Federal Government is committed to making Nigeria an investment hub  for investors, even as he added that the issue of rail connectivity will help to reduce the cost of haulage transportation.

The statement note that shortly after the inspection of the facilities, the Executive Secretary addressing journalists said that “the essence of the visit was to have an on-the-spot assessment of the facilities of the terminal operators.

“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 told the media that the NSC is advocating  for the bill which would transform the agency into Nigerian  Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency

On the objective of the visit, Barr. Akutah said the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for investors in the country, and hence the need to constantly visit the ports and engage stakeholders on the need to achieve continual improvement in trade facilitation, in line with Mr. President’s vision on Ease of Doing Business.

After the facility tours of the ports and terminals, Akutah also had an interactive session with major stakeholders operating at the Eastern Ports.

In his opening remarks, the ES/CEO  said the essence of the interactive session with stakeholders is to listen to the challenges facing their business in order to seek a common avenue to proffer solutions to the challenges.

This is even as the NSC helmsman pledged to ensure the continuity of such collaboration at regular intervals towards achieving a sustained progressive growth with the diversification measures of the non oil sector.

In particular, Akutah said the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to strive by addressing decayed infrastructure at the ports; assuring that the Eastern ports would not be left out in this regard; as the present government is also committed to raising the integrity of operational infrastructure that supports economic growth.