The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has called for increased support to enable the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency to carry out its mandate effectively at the nation’s seaports.

Speaking recently when he hosted some members of NESREA in Apapa, the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr Pius Akutah, lamented that NASREA faces some challenges in accessing port terminals for enforcement activities.

He also commended NASREA for its crucial environmental enforcement efforts.

Akutah highlighted the economic vision of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, particularly in promoting sustainable management of ocean resources.

He urged NESREA to ratify and domesticate relevant international agreements for mutual national benefit.

“There is a need for inter-agency collaboration and synergy among government institutions over antagonism in the execution of their mandates,” he said.

Earlier, the acting Director of NESREA’s Lagos Liaison Office, Dr Jonathan Dajel, called for a strategic partnership with the NSC in its capacity as the ports’ economic regulator.

He reiterated the challenges NESREA faces in accessing port terminals, stressing the agency’s responsibility in enforcing environmental standards.

Dajel also noted that Nigeria is a signatory to several international environmental conventions and underscored NESREA’s role in issuing Ballast Water Management Certificates to regulate marine pollution in line with global practices.

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