Marking a milestone for the nation’s maritime ecosystem, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Governing Board Chairman, H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema, CON, said intensified engagement with service providers will unlock a new phase of growth in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Council’s Head of Public Relations, Rebecca Adamu. Shema made the remarks during courtesy visits to CMA CGM and APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos, on Thursday, April 16, led by the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Pius Akutah, MON. He added that service providers are critical to achieving the Federal Government’s trillion-dollar economy target.
In a move to safeguard Nigeria’s energy future, Dr. Shema urged port operators to expedite the clearance of power projects, warning that delays could jeopardise critical investments in the electricity sector.
He acknowledged that port efficiency is the backbone of infrastructure delivery, he emphasized a new mandate for terminal operators: prioritize the clearance of critical power generation, transmission, and distribution hardware.
And warned against operational delays, stated that cargo clearance bottlenecks threaten to derail the Federal Government’s power sector reforms. He noted that meeting critical project timelines depends entirely on achieving seamless port logistics.
He reiterated that stronger policy coordination is vital for value-chain collaboration, adding that streamlining operations would boost trade volumes and significantly scale government revenue.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC lauded operators for their ongoing modernization efforts, which have improved both cargo handling efficiency and vessel turnaround times.
He noted that export volumes are hitting impressive heights, as some operators record a significant thirty percent growth. This surge, he said, is proof that Nigeria is moving decisively toward a more balanced trade mix.
Strengthening regulatory oversight, Dr. Akutah said the NSC Board and Management paid targeted visits to terminal operators and shipping companies to inspect and evaluate their service delivery standards.
In response, the Managing Director of CMA CGM, Hinelder Ferreira, said operators are committed to efficient service delivery through fully digital processes.
Kamal Alhraishat, the Managing Director of APM Terminals highlighted the company’s vision for long-term investment, attributing its operational milestones to a strong focus on digitalisation and infrastructure upgrades.
