Shippers Council partners NPA to automate port processes

Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, said it is set to partner the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, to automate port operations processes in the country.

Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC, Pius Akutah, who stated this when he led the agency’s management team on a 2 – day working visit to Port Harcourt and Onne ports, said automation will reduce human contacts as well as make procedures and processes for cargo clearance seamless.

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.

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He also noted that the council is prioritising the federal government commitment to expansion of non-oil export. He further explained that the council is working assiduously to actualise the federal government marching order to diversify the nation’s economy through non-oil export.

Akutah stressed the federal government’s commitment to making Nigeria the investment hub of the sub-region, pointing out that the issue of rail connectivity will help to reduce the cost of haulage transportation.

The Executive Secretary, who said that the essence of the visit was to have an on-the spot assessment of the facilities of the terminal operators, also noted that the visit afforded him and his team the opportunity to inspect Bua Port Terminal at Rivers Port, Onne Multipurpose Terminal and West Africa Container Terminal, WACT, in Rivers State, respectively.

He noted that NSC is advocating for the bill which would transform the agency into the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency.

In his opening remarks at the stakeholders meeting, the council’s boss said the essence of the interaction session was to listen to the challenges that are facing their business in order to proffer solutions to them.