The Chairman of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Governing Board, Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema said continuous engagement with service providers will open doors for development in Nigeria’s ports.
Dr. Shema stated this during a visit by Council’s Board and management on a courtesy visit to CMA CGM in Apapa, Lagos last week.
During the visit, Dr Shema noted that service providers are pivotal in achieving the Federal Government’s one-trillion-dollar economy goal.
The NSC Chairman urged port operators to prioritize and expedite clearance of power projects, warning that delays could hinder critical investments in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
He emphasized the importance of port efficiency in delivering port infrastructure, calling on terminal operators to prioritize power generation, transmission, and equipment distribution.
The Chairman also stated that bottlenecks in cargo clearance could undermine the Federal Government’s drive to improve power supply, noting that strict adherence to project timelines depend largely on seamless logistics.
He reiterated the need for stronger policy coordination to enhance collaboration across the value chain, adding that improved efficiency would boost trade volumes and government revenue.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC; Dr Akutah Pius lauded the operators for the ongoing modernization efforts, which he affirmed have improved cargo handling and vessel turnaround time.
According to him, export volumes are quite impressive as some operators now record growth of up to 30 percent. This, he said, is an indication that Nigeria is moving toward a more balanced trade mix.
Dr. Akutah said the Board and Management of the NSC paid visits to shipping companies and terminal operators to inspect and evaluate their performance in service delivery.
On his part, the Managing Director of CMA CGM, Hinelder Ferreira, said the operators are committed to efficient service delivery through digitalized processes.
