FG commends Shippers’ Council over reforms in maritime sector

Abiola Seun |

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has commended the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), for its promotion of the establishment of Vehicle Transit Areas (VTA’s) amongst other initiatives aimed at trade facilitation to boost the nation’s economy and delivering high quality service to shippers.

Speaking yesterday in response to the briefing she received from the Executive Secretary of the Council, Barr. Hassan Bello, the newly-appointed permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani expressed delight about the achievements of the Council and encouraged the management to press ahead with the impressive work they are doing, assuring them of the Ministry’s support.

In a press statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Rakiya Zubair, Bello had earlier explained to the permanent secretary the various ongoing projects and initiatives embarked upon by the council such as the push for 24-hour port operations, efforts to address congestion at the ports, multimodal transportation of goods to and from the ports and digitalization.

The council boss also spoke about challenges, particularly resistance to regulation by port concessionaires.

Responding, the permanent secretary was particularly excited about the prospect of the actualization of VTAs in various parts of Nigeria leading to a significant reduction of road traffic accidents.

She said the VTAs would create sanity on the roads as well as generating employment.

On the National Single Window, she said it is very important for the development of the maritime sector in Nigeria as it will ease the business of shipping.

The permanent secretary commended heads of maritime agencies on their monthly meeting during which issues within the industry are discussed exhaustively with a view to finding solutions.

She said the Ministry expects synergy and collaboration amongst all the agencies under its supervision in order to deliver on the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari.

She promised that the Ministry would assist Shippers’ Council to actualize its goals.

She pointed out the importance of further synergy between the Nigerian Railway Corporation and Shippers’ Council in progressing transportation of containers to and from the ports.