The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday inaugurated the Governing Board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), charging members to uphold accountability and drive reforms aimed at improving efficiency in Nigeria’s ports.
The inauguration, held at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja, followed the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Oyetola described the inauguration as “a major milestone in strengthening institutional governance” in the marine and blue economy sector, noting that the NSC, as Nigeria’s Port Economic Regulator, plays a critical role in ensuring fairness, transparency and efficiency in port pricing and service delivery.
“Effective regulation is essential to reducing the cost of doing business at our ports, facilitating trade, protecting shippers and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global commerce,” the minister said.
He tasked the board with providing strategic direction and policy guidance, while ensuring strict oversight in line with statutory provisions.
Oyetola urged members to work closely with the council’s management and ensure that their decisions translate into measurable outcomes, including cost reduction and improved trade facilitation.
The minister assured the board of the ministry’s support, calling on members to justify the confidence reposed in them through “integrity, discipline and demonstrable results.”
The board is chaired by former Katsina State governor, Dr Ibrahim Shehu Shema. Other members include the Executive Secretary of the council, Dr Pius Akutah; representatives of NACCIMA, MAN, NNPCL and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, alongside other stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the board, Shema thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and commended Oyetola for his leadership in repositioning the sector.
“We will discharge our responsibilities with dedication, professionalism and integrity,” Shema said, pledging to strengthen regulatory efficiency, improve port performance and support initiatives that enhance trade facilitation and national economic growth.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council is the designated Port Economic Regulator, responsible for promoting transparency, competitiveness and fairness in port operations while safeguarding the interests of shippers.
