The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Barr. Pius Akutah, has said that the Council has recorded significant milestones by strengthening Nigeria’s port regulatory framework and protecting the interests of shippers since he assumed office in November 2023.
Akutah made the claims while presenting his three years scorecard to the media over the weekend.
According to him, among the achievements are: the passage of the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill by both chambers of the National Assembly, approval of the Council’s statutory funding mechanism through the 2025 Appropriation Act, active participation in the National Single Window Project, and the resolution of key issues delaying the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN).
He disclosed that within the review period, the Council received 558 complaints and successfully resolved 295 commercial disputes involving container deposits, demurrage, detention charges, terminal charges, cargo claims, export fraud and other commercial matters.
These interventions, he said, resulted in savings exceeding ₦4.54 billion and US$1.348 million for shippers.
He further stated that the Council streamlined bonded terminal invoice charges by reducing 18 charge categories to six, a move designed to improve transparency and reduce costs for port users.
The Executive Secretary further described the approval of the Council’s statutory funding mechanism under the 2025 Appropriation Act as a landmark achievement, noting that it marked the first time such funding had been secured since the Council was established in 1978.
Akutah added that the Council successfully facilitated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria and employers in the shipping industry, culminating in a new ₦200,000 minimum wage for junior workers after nearly two decades of negotiations, adding that discussions on a similar agreement for senior staff are still ongoing.
The NSC boss disclosed preparations for the transition of the Council into the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has been ongoing as management has undertaken extensive organizational restructuring, reviewed departmental responsibilities, strengthened human resource governance, updated HR policies and reinforced compliance with Public Service Rules.
Expressing optimism that the NPERA Bill would receive presidential assent, Akutah said concerns that led to the earlier withholding of assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been addressed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to deepening port economic regulation, strengthening consumer protection, accelerating digital transformation, expanding trade facilitation infrastructure and promoting multimodal transport across the country.
Looking forward, Akutah said: “Our objective is clear: to build a transparent, efficient and globally competitive port economic regulatory system that protects Nigerian shippers, promotes fair competition, improves port efficiency, attracts investment and supports Nigeria’s emergence as the leading maritime and logistics gateway in West and Central Africa.”
