Even as year end festivities hold in communities and cities around the world, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers’ Council,  Barr.Pius Akutah, has been busy on finding solutions to sea ports operations in Nigeria by taking shipping services to the hinterlands.

One of the outcome of several discussions with stakeholders is a meeting with the Executive Governor of Nassarawa State, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule who has expressed willingness to partner with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to facilitate the establishment of Inland Dry Port (IDP) in the State.

Barr. Pius Akutah, , ES/CEO, NSC with His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule,
Governor, Nasarawa State after the meeting

A statement signed by Rebecca Adamu, Assistant Director, Public Relations, NSC, obtained by our reporter, disclosed that  the Governor has already issued directives on how the project can be actualized for the benefit of shippers in Nasarawa state.

“The State Governor has directed the Attorney General of Nasarawa State to meet with the management of the Nasarawa Investment Agency to actualize the aspiration as Nasarawa State produce a large volume of sesame seed”  Rebecca Adamu said

The Statement informs that the Nasarawa State Government is planning to visit the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as part of the efforts to fast-track the development of the Inland Dry Port project in the State adding that  the State is an advocate of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA ), and would ensure awareness creation in respect of the importance of the trade agreement for exporters in the state.

“The Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the ports economic regulator also facilitates the development of Inland Dry Port projects in the six-geo political zones of the country; the idea is to bring shipping facilities nearer to the hinterlands as well as decongest the seaports” the Assistant Director, said

Maritime Nigeria is reliably informed that the ES/CEO of the the Council, believes that the dry ports project in many parts of the country will boost employment opportunities for Nigerians and increase substantial revenue generation for the government as well as create jobs opportunities for citizens in realization of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the federal government.