The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) said the full implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, proper management and strategic investments in the sector could help to achieve the country’s $1 trillion economy target by 2030 and position the country as a leading maritime hub in Africa.

This was stated yesterday at the NSC 2026 Strategic Management Retreat theme, ‘Advancing Strategic Execution: Driving Collaboration, Innovation and Excellence for a Future-ready NSC’.

The Chairman of the Governing Board of NSC, Ibrahim Shema, highlighted the country’s extensive maritime assets, including a coastline stretching over 850 kilometres, extensive inland waterways and vast marine resources, which he said present enormous opportunities for economic expansion.

The board chairman stressed that increased investments in port infrastructure, shipping services, fisheries, aquaculture, offshore energy and coastal tourism would unlock significant economic value, while creating jobs for millions of Nigerians.
Shema stressed that the Council played a critical role in ensuring that the maritime sector contributes meaningfully to the objectives set for the sector.

He added that by harnessing technology, strengthening regulatory frameworks and encouraging public-private partnerships, the Council can effectively transform the marine and blue economy into a major contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP).

He also reaffirmed the board’s commitment to providing necessary policy direction to strengthen the Council in promoting the growth and development of the country’s marine and blue economy sector to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s $1 trillion economy target by 2030.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, said the Council occupies a pivotal position within Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem and has a strategic role in ensuring that the ports become engines of economic growth rather than obstacles to trade and commerce.

Oyetola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Fatima Mahmood, stated that the Council also bears the responsibility of promoting efficiency, fairness and competitiveness within our port system.

He said in doing so, the council must protect the interests of shippers and safeguard Nigeria’s broader economic and trade interests.

The minister urged the t Council to continue deepening collaboration with terminal operators, shipping lines, freight forwarders, regulatory agencies and the private sector.

He said effective stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance and institutional trust will remain essential drivers for improving port efficiency and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in global maritime trade.

“A future-ready Nigerian Shippers’ Council must therefore leverage technology to improve port cost monitoring systems, strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms, enhance data analytics for regulatory oversight, and streamline stakeholder engagement processes,” he said.

The Executive Secretary, NSC, Dr Pius Akutah, reiterated the Council’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, which prioritises strengthening stakeholder engagement across the maritime ecosystem, promoting transparency, fairness and predictability in port economic regulation.

Others include improving operational efficiency and institutional capacity, strengthening digital governance and regulatory systems, and aligning maritime economic growth with sustainability and international best practices.

According to him, these priorities remain the foundation of the Council’s institutional direction today and will only become meaningful when they are translated into disciplined execution.

He also highlighted three strategic pillars that must guide the next phase of the Council’s institutional development, which include collaboration, innovation and excellence.

Akutah said no regulatory institution can operate effectively in isolation within a complex maritime ecosystem, while the dynamics of global trade and logistics require institutions that are adaptive, technology-driven and forward-looking.

Akutah emphasised the implementation initiatives such as the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN), the continued development and operationalisation of critical inland transport infrastructure across the country, the strengthening of trade facilitation and logistics connectivity, and the enhancement of economic regulatory oversight within Nigerian ports.

He said the successful implementation of these initiatives would depend largely on strong collaboration among maritime agencies, logistics operators and private sector stakeholders.

Akutah added that it will also depend on the deployment of innovative regulatory and technological solutions capable of improving cargo visibility, efficiency and transparency within Nigeria’s port and logistics environment.

Akutah said these initiatives are critical to improving cargo visibility, strengthening regulatory oversight and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade.