NSC ,CEO Tours Eastern Ports, assures of FG Commitment on Non-oil Sector Diversification

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By Innocent Orok

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), has restated the Federal Government commitment towards prioritizing the non- oil sector diversification.

Executive Secretary/ CEO of the NSC, 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, 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.

The visit among others gave the Council’s boss the opportunity to inspect Bua Port Terminal at Rivers Port, Onne Multipurpose Terminal and West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) , all in Rivers State.

According to Barr. Akutah , 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.

Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection of the facilities, he said that the essence of the visit was to have an on-the spot assessment of the facilities of the terminal operators.

According to him, “NSC as Port Economic Regulator is working with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on port automation in order to reduce human contacts and 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.

Given the Council’s mission at the terminal, Barr. Akutah said 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.

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

In his opening remarks, during the interactive session Akutah said the essence of the interaction session with stakeholders is to listen to the challenges that are facing their businesses in order to proffer solutions to them.

He harped on the benefit of stakeholders’ engagement and promised to ensure the continuity of its collaboration with stakeholders operating at the ports.

Barr. Akutah said the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to strive by addressing decayed infrastructure at the ports.

He promised that the Eastern ports would not be left out in the FG’s effort to address the decay infrastructure in Nigerian Ports.

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