The Governing Board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has pledged its full support to the management of the Council in advancing the Federal Government’s target of achieving at least seven per cent economic growth by 2027–2028.
The commitment was made in Lagos during the inaugural meeting of the newly inaugurated Board, where the Board Chairman, Dr Ibrahim Shema, said the Board would work closely with management to actualise President Bola Tinubu’s vision of growing Nigeria’s economy to a one-trillion-dollar Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030.
Dr Shema, a former Governor of Katsina State, noted that attaining the ambitious growth and GDP targets would require sustained effort, discipline and collective commitment from both the Board and management of the Council.
According to him, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy are fully aligned with the President’s economic agenda. “We are determined to support the President’s vision of a one-trillion-dollar economy and a minimum of 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.
The Board Chairman stressed that all hands must be on deck for Nigeria to fully harness the vast potential of the blue economy sector. He explained that the Council would focus on strategic initiatives critical to promoting and sustaining the maritime sector’s national and international economic relevance. These include improving the ease of doing business, facilitating trade and commerce, enhancing revenue generation, and strengthening collaboration with stakeholders across the real economy and the maritime industry.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Dr Pius Akutah, underscored the importance of a strong and collaborative relationship between the Board and management, noting that such synergy would deliver tangible institutional and financial outcomes for the NSC.
He identified key priority areas requiring the Board’s guidance to include the actualisation of the Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN), 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,” Dr Akutah said.
He added that while the responsibilities before the Council are substantial, they also present a unique 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,” he stated.
Dr Akutah expressed confidence that with the guidance of the newly constituted Board, the Council would continue to protect shippers’ interests, promote efficient port operations and contribute meaningfully to national economic growth. He described the inaugural meeting as a landmark moment in the history of the Council and expressed optimism that the quality of the Board’s composition would significantly support the achievement of the NSC’s mandate and targets.
