The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), has restated the Federal Government commitment towards prioritizing the non oil sector diversification.  Executive Secretary/ CEO, the Council, Barr. Pius Akutah, MON who stated this when he led the Agency’s Management team on a 2 – day working visit to Port Harcourt and Onne Ports, Rivers State, reiterated that the agency is working assiduously to actualize the Federal Government marching order to diversify the nation’s economy from oil to non oil sector.

According to the Executive Secretary, the Federal Government is committed to making Nigeria investment hub for investors in the country, pointing out that the issue of rail connectivity will help to reduce the cost of haulage transportation.

Akutah said that the Nigerian Shippers Council  as Port Economic Regulator is working with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on port automation in order to reduce human contacts and to clearance of cargo procedures and processes seamless.

He said that the NSC is advocating for the bill which would transform the agency into Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency, adding that 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.

 At BUA Terminal, Rivers Ports, Port Harcourt, Barr. Akutah said that the essence of his visit to the port, which he described as one of the ‘legacy ports’ in the country was to familiarise with key players and stakeholders in the sector, having been appointed as the CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council six months ago.

On what is expected of his administration, Barr. Akutah opined that nothing is new, because Nigerian Shippers’ Council has been on over the years, except the fact that a bill to make it an economic regulator of the ports, is before the National Assembly.

He added that his priority would be on constant engagement with all key stakeholders in the sector, with the aim of working together as one family to achieve the purpose for which the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as well as the Nigerian Shippers’ Council was set up by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 At the stakeholders interactive meeting, Barr. Akutah said the meeting was for him to interface with port users and service providers, as well as other critical stakeholders, to listen to their challenges and see how those challenges could be addressed, for the good of the sector and country at large.