The Executive Secretary, CEO Nigeria shippers’ council, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, has stated that the ongoing reforms in the maritime sector by the federal government, particularly the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy ministry, has repositioned the sector for growth, enthusing that the maritime sector can generate over $30bn annually when fully developed.
The Executive Secretary, who spoke over the weekend in Abuja while attending an award ceremony put together by Top 10 Magazine, pointed out that the Council is 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,” he said.
Akutah explained that once the president gives his assent, “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,” he said.
According to Akutah, 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 the government will bring the desired development for the growth of the industry,” he further assured.
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, urging them to do even more, going forward, as the country is in need of their dedication for her sustainable development.
