By Chidi Ugwu
The Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Akutah Pius Ukeyima Esq. was at the weekend in Abuja, named the “Regulator of the Year” by Top 10 Magazine.
Akutah speaking at the event, noted that recent reforms in the maritime sector by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy ministry has repositioned the sector for growth, adding that the maritime sector can generate over $30bn annually when it has been fully developed.
“…for us at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, we are looking at transmitting from Shippers Council to Port Economic Regulatory Agency which is one of the things that has been missing since the reform of the sector in 2007.
“We are so happy that the National Assembly has graciously in the two Chambers passed that law, and we are looking forward to Mr. President’s assent”.
Akutah explained that when Mr. President gives assent to the law, “we will begin to transmute from the Shippers’ Council mandate to the unofficial Port Economic Regulatory Agency mandate which is given to us by Presidential directive as a regulatory body backed by law.
“What that means is that, we will be empowered to bring about efficiency in the sector which has eroded Nigeria for many years and once the sector becomes efficient, it will promote fair trade policies, it will promote competitiveness in the sector”.
The ES further stated that efficiency will promote competitiveness in benchmarking with other maritime nations around West Africa and the globe… ”
“I think that the regulations that are coming as a result of the new policies of government will bring the desired development for the growth of the industry”.
He therefore called on Nigerians to support these policies for the development of the country’s maritime sector.
In his welcome address, publisher of Top 10 Magazine, Tony Iji, said the awardees have contributed to the growth of the various sectors they are representing.
He urged them to do even more going forward as the country is in need of their dedication for her sustainable development.
Other awardees at the event are the Secretary to the Federal government, Sen. George Akume, who was given “The Man of the Year” award and Chief Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo who was given the’Woman of the Year’ award.
