The Governing Board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has pledged to support the management of the council in playing a key role in helping the Federal Government achieve an economic growth target of at least seven per cent by 2027–2028.
According to Thursday’s statement, the Chairman of the board, Dr Ibrahim Shema, stated this in Lagos during the inaugural meeting of the newly inaugurated board.
Shema said the board would also work closely with the management of the NSC to actualise President Bola Tinubu’s target of growing Nigeria’s economy to a N1tn gross domestic product by 2030.
Shema, who is also a former governor of Katsina State, noted that achieving the ambitious growth and GDP targets would require sustained effort and commitment from both the board and management.
“It is of significant importance that the NSC and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy are determined to support the President’s vision of a N1tn economy and seven per cent growth. The Council, the Board and management are hereby called to service. We have a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.
He stressed that all hands must be on deck for Nigeria to fully harness the potential of the blue economy sector.
According to him, the Council will focus on key initiatives critical to promoting and sustaining the maritime sector’s national and international economic potential, including “improving ease of doing business, facilitating trade and commerce, enhancing revenue generation, and strengthening collaboration with stakeholders across the real economy and the maritime industry”.
“As demonstrated by the presentation we received this morning, there is a clear need for collective effort if the country is to move towards its full potential in the blue economy sector,” Shema added.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr Pius Akutah, said a collaborative relationship between the board and management would deliver tangible institutional and financial outcomes for the NSC.
He identified key priorities requiring the board’s guidance to include the actualisation of the Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note, and the operationalisation of the one per cent freight stabilisation fee.
“These initiatives are critical to strengthening regulatory clarity, improving cargo visibility, enhancing national security, and securing sustainable revenue for the Council,” Akutah said.
He added that while the task before the Council is significant, there is also a major opportunity to reposition the NSC as a financially resilient and institutionally stronger regulator.
“Management is fully committed to supporting the board with robust data, sound financial analysis and structured stakeholder engagement to ensure that all initiatives are pursued in a lawful, transparent and stakeholder-responsive manner. With the guidance of this Board, I am confident that we will continue to protect shippers’ interests, promote efficient port operations and contribute meaningfully to national economic growth,” Dr Akutah added.
The NSC boss described the inaugural meeting as a landmark in the history of the Council and expressed optimism that, with the quality of the board’s formation, it will assist in achieving the Council’s target.
The NSC is a Federal Government agency under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy that serves as Nigeria’s designated Port Economic Regulator. Its mandate is to protect the interests of shippers, promote fairness, transparency and competitiveness in port operations, and facilitate efficient trade and maritime activities within Nigeria’s ports and the broader marine sector. The governing board of the NSC is the policy-making and oversight body for the Council. Its main functions include providing strategic direction and policy guidance for the Council, among others.
